Absenteeism and Indirect Economic Burden Associated With Primary and Secondary Hypogonadism: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Analysis of Employed, Commercially Insured Patients in the U.S.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the indirect economic burden incurred by patients with primary and secondary hypogonadism (HG) compared with non-HG controls using real-world data. In this retrospective cohort study using a large US administrative claims database, adult males with primary or secondary HG were selected from 2010 to 2014. Non-HG controls had no evidence of HG from 2009 to 2014 and were matched on age, insurance type, and geographic region to HG patients. Outcomes included absenteeism and associated costs. HG (vs non-HG) patients had a significant 15% increase in nonrecreational absenteeism hours (adjusted odds ratio 1.15, P = 0.002) and associated costs ($2152 vs $1172, P < 0.001) post-index after adjusting for pre-period differences. The indirect economic burden of HG is significant. Further research is needed to test whether treatment with testosterone can help alleviate the indirect burden associated with HG.