Healthcare cost and utilization before and after the development of significant tricuspid regurgitation by age, sex and race

<b>Background:</b> The impact of significant tricuspid regurgitation (sTR) on healthcare costs and utilization in real-world populations remains understudied. <b>Aim:</b> Describe healthcare costs and utilization before and after development of sTR and describe differences by patient demographic characteristics. <b>Materials & methods:</b> We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal descriptive study using a large database containing electronic health record and insurance claims data for US patients. Healthcare costs and utilization are summarized for up to 3 years prior to sTR and for 1 year after sTR. <b>Results:</b> Costs and utilization increased in the 3 years leading up to and the year after sTR. Costs were higher for patients who were: aged 50-79 years, male, and Black or Hispanic (p < 0.01). Cardiovascular hospitalizations were an important driver of costs in all groups. Patients aged 80 years and over, women, and Black nonHispanic patients had fewer outpatient visits to cardiac specialists in the year following sTR (p < 0.01). <b>Conclusion:</b> Healthcare costs and utilization of patients with TR increase as clinical disease progresses, with important differences by age, sex and race. Increasing recognition of signs of TR progression and improved outpatient cardiac specialty access may be important means to reduce heart failure hospitalization duration as well as overall costs.