Hepatitis delta (HDV) diagnoses were associated with significant increases of all-cause health care utilization and mean total annual costs, according to investigators at AMCP 2023.

Researchers sought to measure the health care resource utilization and costs associated with HDV infection. The most severe form of viral hepatitis, HDV can cause rapid progression to severe liver disease, investigators said. 

The study included 6719 adult patients with 1 or more inpatient claims and 2 or more outpatient claims, spaced at least 30 days apart, for HDV infection. Researchers collected data from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, from the All-Payer Claims Database (APCD), identifying HDV-related claims by diagnostic codes. Patients were excluded if were not continuously enrolled at least 12 months before and after their first date of HDV infection diagnosis. 

The mean total number of all-cause health care utilization claims was nearly 27% greater postdiagnosis than prediagnosis. Following an HDV diagnosis, patients had more inpatient admissions (mean, 1.6 vs 1.3, P < .001), emergency department visits (mean, 1.1 vs 0.9, P < .001), outpatient visits (mean, 10.6 vs 7.9, P < .001), and pharmaceutical claims (mean, 8.2 vs 6.7, P < .001).

Additionally, mean total annual costs of health care services were significantly higher postdiagnosis compared to prediagnosis (mean, $20,230 vs $16,056, P < .001). Researchers found higher costs related to inpatient admissions (mean, $8748 vs $6876, P < .001), outpatient visits (mean, $5272 vs $4176, P < .001), pharmaceutical claims (mean, $6210 vs $5004, P < .001), and emergency department visits (mean, $657 vs $552, P =.435).

Researchers noted their data represented approximately 80% of the insured population and encouraged greater efforts to minimize costs related to HDV infection.

“These findings underscore a need for more effective strategies for the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of HDV, which may translate into cost savings for the health care system,” researchers said.

Reference:
Kaushik A. Lim J, Rustgi V, et al. Healthcare resource utilization and costs of hepatitis delta in the United States: An analysis of all-payer claims database. J Manag Care Spec Pharm. 2023;29(10-a suppl):S1-S137. https://www.jmcp.org/pb-assets/Poster%20Abstract%20Supplements/AMCP2023_PosterAbstractSupplement_0317-1679318682267.pdf