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Smoking increases hospitalizations, costs of peripheral artery disease

Date:
September 28, 2015
Source:
American College of Cardiology
Summary:
An analysis of medical costs associated with atherosclerotic lower extremity peripheral artery disease, a dangerous condition in which a buildup of plaque in the arteries restricts blood flow to the legs and feet, found that health care costs in one year were $18,000 higher in smokers with the condition than non-smokers with the condition. Researchers say clinicians should therefore focus on smoking cessation.
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An analysis of medical costs associated with atherosclerotic lower extremity peripheral artery disease, a dangerous condition in which a buildup of plaque in the arteries restricts blood flow to the legs and feet, found that health care costs in one year were $18,000 higher in smokers with the condition than non-smokers with the condition.

Within one year, 49 percent of the tobacco users with PAD in the study were hospitalized, a hospitalization rate 35 percent higher than nonusers.

The study published online in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found smokers are more likely to be hospitalized for leg events, heart attack and coronary heart disease related to atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease, known as PAD, than non-smokers with PAD.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota Medical School, led by Sue Duval, PhD, analyzed claims data for 22,203 individuals with PAD from 2011 from the largest health plan in Minnesota.

An accompanying editorial by Elizabeth Jackson, M.D., MPH, of the University of Michigan Health System, said the study highlights the urgent need for smoking cessation among PAD patients and getting patients to quit can improve care and save significant health dollars over the long term.


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Materials provided by American College of Cardiology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Sue Duval, Kirsten Hall Long, Samit S. Roy, Niki C. Oldenburg, Kelsey Harr, Rebecca M. Fee, Ratnendra R. Sharma, Nina L. Alesci, Alan T. Hirsch. The Contribution of Tobacco Use to High Health Care Utilization and Medical Costs in Peripheral Artery Disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2015; 66 (14): 1566 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2015.06.1349

Cite This Page:

American College of Cardiology. "Smoking increases hospitalizations, costs of peripheral artery disease." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 28 September 2015. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150928152733.htm>.
American College of Cardiology. (2015, September 28). Smoking increases hospitalizations, costs of peripheral artery disease. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 18, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150928152733.htm
American College of Cardiology. "Smoking increases hospitalizations, costs of peripheral artery disease." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/09/150928152733.htm (accessed March 18, 2024).

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