Article

Few studies have used national data to characterize the occurrence of
aphasia in the U.S.
The purpose of this project was to use national hospital
discharge data to examine the number and characteristics of patients discharged
from U.S. hospitals with a diagnosis of aphasia. We examined data from
the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) (1997-2006) using ICD-9 codes for aphasia to
identify the number and demographic characteristics of patients with aphasia.
RESULTS: Between 1997 and 2006 the number of individuals with aphasia was approximately 100,000 per year. During the 10-year period, the majority of
individuals with aphasia were 65 years of age and older, female, had Medicare as
a primary payer source and resided in the South.
CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of
aphasia and demographic characteristics of individuals with aphasia has been
generally consistent in the U.S. from 1997 to 2006. Future studies are needed to
quantify direct and indirect costs of treating individuals with aphasia as well
as other factors that determine the true impact of aphasia and other
neurologically based disorders of communication.

Langue : ANGLAIS