• Resource utilization estimates were extrapolated to cost estimates by multiplying the frequency of resource utilization to unit costs for specific resources. Total individual costs for hospitalizations, ER visits, physician visits, and laboratory and imaging tests were calculated. Mean cost per month and 95% CIs (confidence interval) are reported for costs based on the assumption of a normal ...

During the winters of 1986-1987 through 1991-1992, rainfall throughout much of Northern California was subnormal, resulting in intermittent accumulation of air pollution, much of which was attributable to residential wood combustion (RWC). This investigation examined whether there was a relationship between ambient air pollution in Santa Clara County, California and emergency room visits for as...

BACKGROUND Reducing hospitalizations and emergency room visits is important to improve patient outcomes. This observational study examined the association between adherence to antipsychotics and risk of hospitalizations and emergency room (ER) visits among patients with bipolar disorder. METHODS Claims data from commercial healthcare plans (Pharmetrics; January 2000 to December 2006) for pati...

Abstract Older adults have higher risk of experiencing medication related problems (MRPs), leading to increased morbidity, healthcare utilization, and mortality. Few studies examined the relationship between non-native English speaking (NNES) MRPs their association with health service use. This study aimed explore language disparities in emergency room (ER) visits among community-dwelling older...

BACKGROUND Despite strict avoidance, severely food-allergic children experience frequent and potentially severe food-induced anaphylaxis (FSFA). There are no accepted preventive interventions for FSFA. A Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula prevents anaphylaxis in murine food allergy models, and has immunomodulatory effects in humans. We analyzed the effects of TCM treatment on three pedi...

OBJECTIVE To understand the impact of anemia on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and healthcare resource utilization (HRU) in patients with HIV/AIDS. METHODS In 2003, adults with HIV/AIDS were recruited through 114 US STD/HIV clinics to complete self-administered questionnaires. Adults reporting anemia as a side-effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) during the past month were considere...

BACKGROUND The Qassam rocket attacks on southern Israel during the years 2000-2007 created a unique situation of life undera continuous threat. The effect of this unique situation on health services utilization has not been previously examined. OBJECTIVES To evaluate health utilization patterns in two primary care clinics in southern Israel: one under continuous attacks of Qassam rockets as c...

OBJECTIVE To assess the utilization of leukotriene modifiers (LM) relative to national guidelines and to investigate possible emergency room utilization differences for LMs as monotherapy versus inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) monotherapy or combination ICS and LM therapy. METHODS The utilization of leukotriene modifiers (montelukast sodium, zafirlukast, and zileuton), concurrent inhaled steroid...

Bipolar I disorder (BPD-1) is a chronic mood characterized by manic and depressive episodes that produces substantial financial burden in the US. This retrospective chart review study compared healthcare resource utilization (HRU) among patients with associated BPD-1 treated lurasidone or cariprazine, two atypical antipsychotics approved for treatment of bipolar depression. Data on adult prescr...