Health Care Burden of Dyspepsia Among Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients

BACKGROUND: Although dyspepsia is common among nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients, its impact on patient health and cost has not been adequately studied. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incremental health care burden associated with dyspepsia among NVAF patients and its impact on warfarin treatment. METHODS: NVAF patients ≥ 18 years of age with continuous insurance coverage were identified (January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2009) from the MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Research databases. Patients with 1 inpatient or 2 outpatient dyspepsia diagnoses within 12 months following any NVAF diagnosis were grouped into the dyspeptic cohort, and patients without any dyspepsia diagnosis were grouped into the nondyspeptic cohort. Of the overall cohorts, patients were matched by key patient characteristics. Dyspepsia was further categorized as having a prior history of dyspepsia (chronic) or no dyspepsia (nonchronic) during the baseline period. Health care resource utilization, associated costs, and warfa...