OBJECTIVES: Essential tremor (ET) is the most common movement disorder, affecting an estimated 10 million individuals in the United States, or approximately 3% of the population. The aims of this study were to assess health care resource utilization (HCRU) and costs among patients with ET.

METHODS: This retrospective observational cohort study was conducted using an administrative claims database from a US healthcare payer with 15M covered lives. We identified patients with ET (ICD-10-CM: G250) during the study period (1/1/2017 – 12/31/2019). The earliest claim date with evidence of ET was identified as index date. Qualified patients were ≥22 years of age and had at least 6 months of enrollment before the index date and 12 months of enrollment after the index date. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were assessed using all data within 6 months prior to and including the index date. Treatment patterns, HCRU, and costs were estimated using all data within 12 months after the index date.

RESULTS: Of 5,286 patients with ET, 41.8% had emergency department visits, 95.0% had specialist visits, 29.5% had inpatient admission, 26.0% received no ET-related pharmacotherapy or refractory surgery (untreated), 71.3% received some pharmacotherapy (pharmacotherapy), and 2.7% had refractory surgery (surgery) during the 12-month follow-up period. Average all-cause medical costs were $12,962 per patient per year (PPPY), pharmacy costs were $3,892 PPPY, and total health care costs were $16,854 PPPY. Among total costs, ET-related costs were $1,386 PPPY (8.1% of total cost). ET-related treatment significantly increased total health care costs (untreated $12,900 PPPY, pharmacotherapy $17,916 PPPY, surgery $29,328 PPPY, p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that ET is associated with substantial HCRU and economic burden on afflicted patients and the health care system. Future studies are needed to optimize disease management strategies to improve outcomes and reduce health care expenditure in this complex population.