Impact of Atrial Fibrillation on Stroke‐Related Healthcare Costs

Background Limited data exist on the economic implications of stroke among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study assesses the impact of AF on healthcare costs associated with ischemic stroke (IS), hemorrhagic stroke (HS), or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Methods and Results A retrospective analysis of MarketScan claims data (2005‐2011) for AF patients ≥18 years old with ≥1 inpatient claim for stroke, or ≥1 ED or inpatient claim for TIA as identified by ICD‐9‐CM codes who had ≥12 months continuous enrollment prior to initial stroke. Initial event‐ and stroke‐related costs 12 months post‐index were compared among patients with AF and without AF. Adjusted costs were estimated, controlling for demographics, comorbidities, anticoagulant use, and baseline resource use. Data from 23 807 AF patients and 136 649 patients without AF were analyzed.  Read more