Costs of Emergency Department Visits and Hospitalizations for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Direct charges for emergency department visits and hospitalizations for patients with Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension throughout the United States, 2007-2011 were determined. Administrative data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample and the Nationwide Inpatient Sample were used. Patients with known causes of pulmonary hypertension that are not classified as Group 1 according to the updated clinical classification were excluded. Total charges for 64,451emergency department visits from 2007-2011 were $28,976,350 (average yearly charges $5,795,270). Average cost/emergency department visit was $450. Total charges for 45,956 hospitalizations 2007-2011 were $542,165,360. Average charge/patient for hospitalization was $11,797. In conclusion, Group 1 pulmonary arterial hypertension, although uncommon, is associated with significant costs for emergency department visits and hospitalizations.