In:
PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science (PLoS), Vol. 18, No. 6 ( 2023-6-28), p. e0287676-
Abstract:
The proportion of neck injuries due to traffic accidents is increasing. Little is known about high-cost patients with acute whiplash-associated disorder (WAD). The present study aimed to investigate whether time to first visit for conventional medicine, multiple doctor visits, or alternative medicine could predict high-cost patients with acute WAD in Japan. Methods Data from a compulsory, no-fault, government automobile liability insurance agency in Japan between 2014 and 2019 were used. The primary economic outcome was the total cost of healthcare per person. Treatment-related variables were assessed based on the time to first visit for conventional and alternative medicine, multiple doctor visits, and visits for alternative medicine. Patients were categorized according to total healthcare cost (low, medium, and high cost). The variables were subjected to univariate and multivariate analysis to compare high-cost and low-cost patients. Results A total of 104,911 participants with a median age of 42 years were analyzed. The median total healthcare cost per person was 67,366 yen. The cost for consecutive medicine, for consecutive and alternative medicine, and total healthcare costs were significantly associated with all clinical outcomes. Female sex, being a homemaker, a history of WAD claim, residential area, patient responsibility in a traffic accident, multiple doctor visits, and visits for alternative medicine were identified as independent predictive factors for a high cost in multivariate analysis. Multiple doctor visits and visits for alternative medicine showed large differences between groups (odds ratios 2673 and 694, respectively). Patients with multiple doctor visits and visits for alternative medicine showed a significantly high total healthcare cost per person (292,346 yen) compared to those without (53,587 yen). Conclusions A high total healthcare cost is strongly associated with multiple doctor visits and visits for alternative medicine in patients with acute WAD in Japan.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1932-6203
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.g001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.t001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.t002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.t003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.t004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.t005
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.s001
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.s002
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.s003
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.s004
DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0287676.s005
Language:
English
Publisher:
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2267670-3
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