The impact of comorbidities on inpatient Charcot neuroarthropathy cost and utilization.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to portray the impact of comorbidities on inpatient cost and utilization in Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) patients.

METHODS

Two cohorts, CN and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), were identified by ICD-9 codes in the California Office for Statewide Health Planning and Development 2009-2012 public patient discharge files. DPN and CN costs and length of stay (LOS) were compared adjusting for the number of chronic conditions. The impact of the Elixhauser comorbidity measures and other comorbidities on costs and LOS in CN subjects was evaluated.

RESULTS

CN was associated with 17.2% higher costs and 1.4 days longer LOS compared to DPN alone. Adjusting for 0.71 additional chronic conditions in CN patients accounted for 79.8% of variance and estimated a 13.9% cost difference between cohorts. Subjects averaged 4.5 Elixhauser comorbidities with higher scores corresponding to increased cost, LOS, and inpatient mortality. Other diabetic foot risk factors demonstrated that foot ulcers, foot infections, and osteomyelitis had significantly higher costs. Patients with foot ulcers, osteomyelitis, and depression had significantly increased LOS.

CONCLUSIONS

Systemic and local comorbidities significantly impact the cost, utilization, and inpatient mortality in inpatient management of Charcot foot.