Total Cost of PID in 1990 Is Estimated at $4.2 Billion; Private Insurance Paid Largest Share of Expenditures

The total cost of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in the US including costs of hospital and outpatient treatment of treatment of ectopic pregnancy and infertility and including lost productivity is estimated at $4.2 billion for 1990. The methods and data used in the estimation are described: hospital costs were based on California sources. Hospital Discharge Survey data National Disease Therapeutic Index data and National Health Survey of Physician Visits data were accessed to estimate numbers of women treated in hospitals clinics and emergency departments. There were 200000 women hospitalized for PID in 1987-88 and 44000 ectopic pregnancies 1/2 caused by PID. The total cost of treating PID in 1990 is estimated at $2.7 billion 77% for inpatient and outpatient care 14% for ectopic pregnancy and 9% for infertility. Hospital and physician charges amounted to over 80% of this amount. Other indirect cost were estimated at $1.5 billion for lost wages and lost value of household management and 14% for premature death. The average cost of hospitalization for PID was $7200; the cost of outpatient treatment was about $200. Evaluation of infertility cost an estimated $3700. The proportion of women treated on an outpatient basis and the proportion of costs covered by public hospitals as opposed to private insurance have both increased in recent years.