Contribution of health care factors to the burden of skin disease in the United States

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-1-2017

Publication Title

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Abstract

The American Academy of Dermatology has developed an up-to-date national Burden of Skin Disease Report on the impact of skin disease on patients and on the US population. In this second of 3 manuscripts, data are presented on specific health care dimensions that contribute to the overall burden of skin disease. Through the use of data derived from medical claims in 2013 for 24 skin disease categories, these results indicate that skin disease health care is delivered most frequently to the aging US population, who are afflicted with more skin diseases than other age groups. Furthermore, the overall cost of skin disease is highest within the commercially insured population, and skin disease treatment primarily occurs in the outpatient setting. Dermatologists provided approximately 30% of office visit care and performed nearly 50% of cutaneous surgeries. These findings serve as a critical foundation for future discussions on the clinical importance of skin disease and the value of dermatologic care across the population.

Medical Subject Headings

Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Cost of Illness; Delivery of Health Care; Dermatology; Humans; Infant; Insurance, Health; Middle Aged; Skin Diseases; United States; Young Adult

PubMed ID

28427793

Volume

76

Issue

6

First Page

1151

Last Page

1160

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