Healthcare charges in patients who transition from ocular hypertension to primary open-angle glaucoma based on ophthalmic coding data

Introduction The purpose of this research was to assess the impact of transition from ocular hypertension (OHT) to primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) on healthcare charges. Methods A case-control group was identified using PharMetrics claims database (1998–2005). Cases ( n =1055) had a transition from OHT to POAG based on International Classification of Disease, Ninth Edition coding (ICD-9=365.11). Controls ( n =2110) retained an ICD-9 code for OHT (ICD-9=365.04) and were matched to cases (2:1) on gender, age, diagnosis year, and follow-up time post-diagnosis. The index date marked the transition for cases and a date of similar duration after OHT diagnosis for controls. Conditional logistic regression and multiple linear regression models determined the impact of transitioning on healthcare charges. Results Cases had significantly higher increases in ophthalmology-related charges ($797 vs. −$385, P