Myotonic Dystrophy (DM) Burden of Disease: A Retrospective Study of Healthcare Costs and Utilization by Individuals With DM

Hot off the presses - a large study examining healthcare costs and utilization for patients with myotonic dystrophy highlighted high clinical and economic burden, as well as stresses the importance of improving care and lowering the healthcare costs. 

Specifically the study showed that myotonic dystrophy (DM) patients:

• Were 3.7 times more likely to be hospitalized
• Were 2.4 times more likely to visit an emergency department
• Had 2 times as many outpatient visits in the first year post-diagnosis
• Incur costs 3.9 times higher for health plan paid costs in the first year post-diagnosis
• Incur costs 2.6 times higher for patient-paid costs in the first year post-diagnosis
• Similar healthcare utilization and costs were found at 2- and 3-years post-diagnosis

Publication:

Myotonic Dystrophy (DM) Burden of Disease: A Retrospective Study of Healthcare Costs and Utilization by Individuals With DM