PHS106 - Gender Differences In Health-Care Related Expenditures For Patients With Arthritis In The United States

Abstract

Our study aimed to examine gender differences in Health-related expenditures for patients with arthritis in the US civilian non-institutionalized population. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using the National Medical Expenditures Panel Survey data (MEPS). Study subjects included patients who reported having any type of arthritis in 2009. The dependent variables include total and out of pocket medical expenditures (in-patients, outpatient, emergency department visits); and total and out of pocket prescription drugs expenditures. A series of weighted t-statistics statistics were used to test the effect of gender on health-related expenditures. To provide national estimates, all analyses incorporated sample weights and standard errors corrections to adjust for the complex sampling design employed by MEPS. There were an estimated 55.988 million arthritis patients from 2009 MEPS, in which 8.5 million (15.1%) had rheumatoid arthritis; 21.2 million (37.7%) had osteoarthritis; and 26.5 million (47.2%) had unspecified arthritis. About 85% of the patients were white and 60.4% were females. Female showed significant higher total medical expenditures than male ($9,633 vs. $8,874) (p<0.0001). Female also showed significant higher out of pocket medical expenditures than male. ($1,337 vs. $1,026) (p<0.0001). The results from prescription total expenditures also showed significant difference (p<0.0001) between male ($2,097) and female ($2,235) arthritis patients. Finally, the results of out of pocket prescription expenditures showed a significant difference (p<0.0001) between male ($414) and female ($500). The study indicates that women have higher medical care service utilization and higher associated charges than men. The findings provide valuable evidence for future implications of women health care services.