Aging, sex, and cost of medical treatment.

OBJECTIVE

Association between medical cost from workplace injuries and aging and its effect modification by sex were examined.

METHODS

Medical costs reimbursed from workers' compensation between 2003 and 2009 were used. A multiple zero-truncated negative binomial regression predicted percent changes in medical cost. Cubic regression spline smoothers tested effect modification.

RESULTS

Reimbursed medical costs comprised 3452 claims. Medical costs increased with aging; however, the trends differ by sex. Medical cost increase after 10 years of age increase was 27% among men (95% CI = 17% to 38%) and was 15% among women (12% to 22%). Medical cost spent among the youngest women was higher than that for the oldest men. The ratio of cost between the oldest women and oldest men was double.

CONCLUSIONS

Prioritizing controls for injuries in hospitals should focus on women and aging workers.