Abstract Details

ET is one of the most common movement disorders in adults often impairing patients’ quality of life. Real-world evidence on the economic and psychological burden on ET is limited.

To compare healthcare costs and prevalence of psychiatric disorders between patients with and without essential tremor (ET).

This retrospective observational study was conducted using an administrative claims database from a large United States health care payer. Patients with ET (ICD-10-CM: G250) were identified during the study period (1/1/2017 – 12/31/2019). The earliest claim date with evidence of ET was identified as the index date. Patients age 22+ with 6 and 12 months of health plan enrollment before and after index date were included. Demographics and comorbidities were assessed within six months prior to the index date. Psychiatric disorders and costs were examined within 12 months after the index date. ET vs. Non-ET patients matching was determined using 1:1 exact matching on age, gender, payer type, first 3-digits ZIP-code. The outcomes were adjusted by comorbidities and household incomes using multivariable generalized linear models.

There were 5,244 patients in each of ET and Non-ET groups (mean age 70.8 years; 49.1% female). ET vs. Non-ET patients had higher total healthcare costs (mean (standard deviation)): $17,560($39,972) vs. $13,237($27,098), Adjusted cost ratio (95%CI): 1.11(1.06-1.16); higher number of comorbidities:  5.3(3.2) vs. 4.0(3.3); and higher prevalence of psychiatric disorders (depression: 25.6 vs. 15.3%, adjusted odds ratio (AOR) (95%CI): 1.56(1.41-1.73); anxiety: 27.7 vs. 15.5%, AOR: 1.78(1.61-1.96); any psychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety, stress and adjustment disorders, dissociative and conversion disorders, somatoform disorders, substance use): 45.9 vs 31.1%, AOR: 1.57(1.44-1.70)). All p < 0.0001.

These data demonstrate increased healthcare costs and prevalence of psychiatric disorders among ET patients compared with matched non-ET patients and underscore the need for better therapeutic offerings for this complex population.