The burden of skin disease in the United States
Recommended Citation
Lim HW, Collins SA, Resneck JS, Bolognia JL, Hodge JA, Rohrer TA, Van Beek MJ, Margolis DJ, Sober AJ, Weinstock MA, Nerenz DR, Smith Begolka W, Moyano JV. The burden of skin disease in the United States. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2017; 76(5):958-972.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
5-1-2017
Publication Title
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
Abstract
Since the publication of the last US national burden of skin disease report in 2006, there have been substantial changes in the practice of dermatology and the US health care system. These include the development of new treatment modalities, marked increases in the cost of medications, increasingly complex payer rules and regulations, and an aging of the US population. Recognizing the need for up-to-date data to inform researchers, policy makers, public stakeholders, and health care providers about the impact of skin disease on patients and US society, the American Academy of Dermatology produced a new national burden of skin disease report. Using 2013 claims data from private and governmental insurance providers, this report analyzed the prevalence, cost, and mortality attributable to 24 skin disease categories in the US population. In this first of 3 articles, the presented data demonstrate that nearly 85 million Americans were seen by a physician for at least 1 skin disease in 2013. This led to an estimated direct health care cost of $75 billion and an indirect lost opportunity cost of $11 billion. Further, mortality was noted in half of the 24 skin disease categories.
Medical Subject Headings
Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Cost of Illness; Drug Costs; Health Care Costs; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Life Expectancy; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Skin Diseases; United States; Young Adult
PubMed ID
28259441
Volume
76
Issue
5
First Page
958
Last Page
972
