High-cost analysis. a closer look at the case for work-site health promotion
Kingery, P.M.; Ellsworth, C.G.; Corbett, B.S.; Bowden, R.G.; Brizzolara, J.A.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association 36(12): 1341-1347
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0096-1736 PMID: 7884576 Document Number: 430026
Studies linking medical costs to behavioral risk and risk-lowering often use means for comparisons, although claims data are highly skewed. The result overestimates and obscures the case for work-site health promotion. In this study, high-cost analysis is illustrated in a sample of university employees. Five risk factors were examined: cholesterol, blood pressure, cardiovascular fitness, body fat, and smoking status. Screened employees who released their claims (n = 367) were examined against a random sample of employees (n = 587). Linear regression was used to determine the risk of having high claims costs within four gender-specific age groups. A formula was then applied to determine that more than 43% of the cost of medical claims was associated with elevated risk. High-cost analysis accounts for the skewness in claims data and presents a clear case for work-site health promotion.