Diagnosing and characterizing inflammatory myopathies at an Australian tertiary public hospital: Resource utilization and direct healthcare costs

Abstract

Aim: To determine the direct health service costs and resource utilization associated with diagnosing and characterizing idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs), and to assess for limitations and diagnostic delay in current practice. Methods: A retrospective, single-center cohort analysis of all patients diagnosed with IIMs between January 2012 and December 2021 in a large tertiary public hospital was conducted. Demographics, resource utilization and costs associated with diagnosing IIM and characterizing disease manifestations were identified using the hospital's electronic medical record and Health Intelligence Unit, and the Medicare Benefits Schedule. Results: Thirty-eight IIM patients ..