OBJECTIVES: To examine trends in hospital length of stay and total costs in HAE patients.

METHODS: The latest available 2015 National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data set of hospital admissions from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project was utilized in order to determine the number of hospital admissions for patients with HAE (identified by ICD-9 for Q1-Q3 and ICD-10 codes for Q4). The LOS and costs were compared by payer type, race and age groups.

RESULTS: Based on our inclusion criteria we found 5,504 admissions, representing 0.064% of all hospitalizations. The mean age was 58.27 years (SD: 17.88, Median 59 years). The overall mean LOS was 4.26 days (SD: 5.28, Median 3 days). Majority of the hospitalizations were in patients age 60+ (50%), followed by age 45-59 (30%). Mean (SD) LOS by age: 18-45: 3.76 days (SD: 4.57, n= 718), 45-59: 4.35 days (SD: 5.79, n= 1253) and 60+: 4.44 days (SD: 5.19, n= 2062). The mean LOS by payer: Medicare: 4.54 days (SD: 5.27), Medicaid: 4.33 days (SD: 6.02) and Private: 3.76 days (SD: 4.71). The overall mean charges were $42,125 (SD: $67,803). The mean costs by age group were 18-45: $34755 (SD: $48503), 45-59: $44899 (SD: $76751) and 60+: $43706 (SD: $67870). The mean costs by payer type were: Medicare: $44785 (SD: $69656), Medicaid: $42881 (SD: $78918) and Private: $37999 (SD: $58736). LOS and charges did not significantly vary by race.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with hereditary angioedema incur some costs for public and private payers due to the need for hospitalization. New treatments with shorter LOS could potentially lower the economic burden by offsetting cost of hospitalization.