Self-reported Function, Health Resource Use, and Total Health Care Costs Among Medicare Beneficiaries With Glaucoma

IMPORTANCE The effect of glaucoma on nonglaucomatous medical conditions and resultant secondary health care costs is not well understood. OBJECTIVE To assess self-reported medical conditions, the use of medical services, and total health care costs among Medicare beneficiaries with glaucoma. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Longitudinal observational study of 72 587 Medicare beneficiaries in the general community using the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey (2004-2009). Coding to extract data started in January 2015, and analyses were performed between May and July 2015. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Self-reported health, the use of health care services, adjusted mean annual total health care costs per person, and adjusted mean annual nonoutpatient costs per person. RESULTS Participants were 72 587 Medicare beneficiaries 65 years or older with (n = 4441) and without (n = 68 146) a glaucoma diagnosis in the year before collection of survey data. Their mean age was 76.9 years, and 43.2% were male. Patients with glaucoma who responded to survey questions on visual disability were stratified into those with (n = 1748) and without (n = 2639) self-reported visual disability. Medicare beneficiaries with glaucoma had higher adjusted odds of inpatient hospitalizations (odds ratio [OR], 1.27; 95% CI, 1.17-1.39; P <.001) and home health aide visits (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.13-1.43; P <.001) compared with Medicare beneficiaries without glaucoma. Furthermore, patients with glaucoma with self-reported visual disability were more likely to report depression (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.26-1.71; P <.001), falls (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.09-1.66; P =.006), and difficulty walking (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.02-1.45; P =.03) compared with those without self-reported visual disability. In the risk-adjusted model, Medicare beneficiaries with glaucoma incurred an additional $2903 (95% CI, $2247-$3558; P <.001) annual total health care costs and $2599 (95% CI, $1985-$3212; P <.001) higher costs for nonoutpatient services compared with Medicare beneficiaries without glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Glaucoma is associated with greater use of inpatient and home health aide services and with higher annual total and nonoutpatient medical costs. Perception of vision loss among patients with glaucoma may be associated with depression, falls, and difficulty walking. Reducing the prevalence and severity of glaucoma may result in improvements in associated nonglaucomatous medical conditions and resultant reduction in health care costs.