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Short Communication
21 October 2022

Diagnostic amyloid light chain amyloidosis hospitalizations associated with high acuity and cost: analysis of the Premier Healthcare Database

Authors: Anita D’Souza https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1092-5643, Michael S Broder https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2049-5536, Katalin Bognar https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8357-8569, Eunice Chang https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0177-6153, Marian H Tarbox https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0818-5113, and Tiffany P Quock https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4861-4285 [email protected]Author Info & Affiliations
Volume 11, Number 17
https://doi.org/10.2217/cer-2022-0141
PDFFormats

Abstract

Aim: Estimate the frequency and costs of diagnostic admissions among hospitalized patients with amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis. Materials & methods: This retrospective analysis used nationally representative hospital discharge data from 2017 to 2020 to report resource use and cost for hospitalizations during which AL amyloidosis was diagnosed. Results: Of 1341 admissions, 17.6% were diagnostic. Bone marrow (79.5%) and kidney (44.9%) biopsies were the most common qualifying biopsies. Diagnostic hospitalizations had longer length of stay (14.5 vs 8.4 days; p < 0.001) and higher cost ($40,052 [USD] vs $24,360; p < 0.001) than nondiagnostic ones. Conclusion: Diagnostic admissions are more likely to be urgent/emergent, require longer stays and have higher costs compared with hospitalizations in known AL amyloidosis patients. Improved diagnostic pathways toward early diagnosis are needed.

Plain language summary

What is this summary about?

Diagnosing amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is challenging and may occur during an acute admission, which may be resource intensive and costly. The objective of the study was to estimate the frequency of diagnostic admissions among hospitalized patients with AL amyloidosis and the associated healthcare utilization and costs.

What were the results?

About 17.6% of hospital admissions for patients with AL amyloidosis were identified as a diagnostic encounter. Patients with AL amyloidosis diagnosed in the hospital have longer hospital stays and higher costs than other AL amyloidosis hospitalizations.

What do the results of the study mean?

Results suggest that continued effort is needed to improve diagnostic pathways toward early diagnosis of this multisystem disease.

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References

Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest; •• of considerable interest
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