Healthcare cost and utilization before and after diagnosis of pseudomonas aeruginosa among patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in the US

Objectives: Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE) is a rare, chronic lung disease characterized by bronchial inflammation and permanent airway dilation. Chronic infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) have been linked to higher morbidity and mortality in NCFBE patients. We assessed healthcare cost and utilization in the year before and after PA diagnosis among US commercially-insured NCFBE patients. Methods: Using data from 2007 – 2013 PharMetrics Plus administrative claims, we included patients with > 2 claims for bronchiectasis (ICD-9-CM: 494.xx) and > 1 claim for PA (482.1 or 041.7); then excluded th…