Healthcare costs predicted by modifiable risk factors
The relationship between modifiable health risks and future medical care expenditures: the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation (KMIC) Study. Jee SH, O'Donnell MP, Suh I, Kim IS, Korea Medical Insurance Corporation. Am J Health Promot. 2001. 15: 244-255.
Aim
To determine whether having modifiable lifestyle factors can predict future medical care costs.
Looked at
78,728 men and 50,414 women at the Korea Medical Insurance Corporation over six years.
How?
Collected health risk appraisal (HRA) data and biometric measurements and linked them to medical claims records.
Risk criteria
People were assessed for their perceived health status, smoking, body mass index, physical activity, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, and blood glucose levels.
Results
- Excess costs for high-risk individuals stood between 2.4% and 16.0% compared with that for low-risk individuals.
- The presence of multiple risk factors doubled medical costs.
- Health risk factors accounted for 23.1% of medical care costs over the six years.
What does this mean?
Modifiable health risk factors contribute to healthcare costs, and when grouped together can double healthcare costs.