Cost Statistics

Yelin E, Cisternas M, Foreman A, Pasta D, Murphy L, Helmick C. National and state medical expenditures and lost earnings attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions — United States, 2003. MMWR 2007;56(1):4–7. html [PDF-306K]

The table below shows the total costs* (in millions of dollars) attributable to arthritis and other rheumatic conditions for each state in 2003.

National Medical Expenditures Among People with Arthritis, 1997 to 2005

From 1997 to 2005, total national expenditures among all US adults with arthritis increased by $100 billion. Medical expenditures were $252.0 billion in 1997 and $353.0 billion in 2005. (Cisternas et al 2009)

Why did total national medical expenditures among all adults with arthritis increase from 1997 to 2005?

• The rise in medical expenditures in this time period is attributable to two distinct factors:
  1. The number of people with arthritis and other rheumatic conditions increased by 22%
  2. Medical expenditures for each person with arthritis increased by 15%

Total national medical expenditures among US adults with arthritis, 1997 to 2005

Data source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1997-2005

Expenditures for each individual are the sum of the following: inpatient, outpatient, office visit, home health, emergency, prescription medications, and other.

The graph above shows that ––

• From 1995 to 2005, the total national medical expenditures among adults with arthritis only remained stable.
• However, total medical expenditures rose by 27% among people who had arthritis and one or more co-occurring chronic conditions.
  • This increase in expenditures resulted from a rise in number of people with arthritis who also have co-occurring chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
  • In 1997, 36.8 million people with arthritis had co-occurring chronic conditions and by 2005, this had risen to 44.9 million people.

Cisternas MG, Murphy LB, Yelin EH, Foreman AJ, Pasta DJ, Helmick CG. Trends in Medical Care Expenditures of US Adults with Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions 1997 to 2005 J Rheumatol 2009;36(11):2531-2538. abstract

Data source: Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, 1997-2005

Expenditures for each individual are the sum of the following: inpatient, outpatient, office visit, home health, emergency, prescription medications, and other.

The graph above shows that ––

• From 1995 to 2005, the total national medical expenditures among adults with arthritis only remained stable.
• However, total medical expenditures rose by 27% among people who had arthritis and one or more co-occurring chronic conditions.
  • This increase in expenditures resulted from a rise in number of people with arthritis who also have co-occurring chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
  • In 1997, 36.8 million people with arthritis had co-occurring chronic conditions and by 2005, this had risen to 44.9 million people.

Cisternas MG, Murphy LB, Yelin EH, Foreman AJ, Pasta DJ, Helmick CG. Trends in Medical Care Expenditures of US Adults with Arthritis and Other Rheumatic Conditions 1997 to 2005 J Rheumatol 2009;36(11):2531-2538. abstract