Health Care Utilization and Costs by Level of Continuity of Care (N = 47,433)
| Most Frequent Provider Continuity | Modifed, Modifed Continuity Index | Continuity of Care Index | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characteristic | Above Median | Below Median | Above Median | Below Median | Above Median | Below Median |
| Health care utilization, adjusted meana (SE) | ||||||
| Total inpatient days (2005–2010) | 7.4 (0.4) | 11.4 (0.4) | 7.4 (0.4) | 11.4 (0.4) | 7.4 (0.4) | 11.4 (0.4) |
| Difference (95% CI) | 4.0 (2.8–5.2) | 4.0 (2.8–5.2) | 4.0 (2.9–5.2) | |||
| Total outpatient days (2005–2010) | 2 2.5 (0.2) | 25.4 (0.2) | 22.1 (0. 2) | 25.8 (0.2) | 22.5 (0.2) | 25.4 (0.2) |
| Difference (95% CI) | 2.9 (2.3–3.4) | 3.7 (3.1–4.2) | 2.9 (2.3–3.5) | |||
| Health care costs, 2005–2010, $ (US) | ||||||
| Total inpatient cost, adjusted meana (SE) | 853.7 (31.7) | 1294.5 (31.6) | 844.7 (32.3) | 1297.1 (31.7) | 851.5 (31.7) | 1297.3 (31.6) |
| Difference (95% CI) | 440.9 (352.6–529.2) | 452.4 (362.3–542.5) | 4 45.7 (357.5 – 53 4.0) | |||
| Total outpatient cost, adjusted meana (SE) | 457.5 (17.7) | 574.6 (17.6) | 446.5(18.0) | 5 83. 6 (17.7) | 456.1 (17.7) | 576 .1 (17.6) |
| Difference (95% CI) | 117. 0 (67.7–16 6.3) | 136.7 (86.5–187.0) | 119.7 (70.5–169.0) | |||
| Total cost, adjusted meana (SE) | 1311.1 (38.0) | 1869.2 (37.9) | 1291.3 (38.6) | 1880.6 (38.0) | 13 07.7 (37.9) | 18 7 3.4 (37.9) |
| Difference (95% CI) | 557.9 (452.3–663.5) | 589.1 (481.4–696.9) | 565.5 (459.8–671.2) | |||
CI = confidence interval; SE = standard error. $1 (US) = ₩1,100 (Korean won), as of 2012.
Note: All P values comparing above to below median utilization and cost parameters <0.001.
↵a Multivariable adjustments included age, sex, income level (quartile), Charlson comorbidity index, number of visits during the first 2 years, and residential area (for detail, see text).