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Impact of false-positive newborn metabolic screening results on early health care utilization

Ellen A Lipstein1, James M Perrin, Susan E Waisbren

  • 1Center for Child and Adolescent Health Policy, MassGeneral Hospital for Children, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. elipstein@partners.org

Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics
|August 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

False-positive newborn screening results did not significantly impact early healthcare use in children. This finding suggests that associated medical costs are primarily limited to diagnostic testing and follow-up care.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Newborn screening programs identify infants at risk for serious genetic, metabolic, and endocrine disorders.
  • False-positive results, while uncommon, can cause parental anxiety and may lead to increased healthcare utilization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between false-positive newborn screening results and healthcare utilization in early childhood.
  • To determine if false-positive screening outcomes influence primary care visits, emergency room use, or hospitalizations.

Main Methods:

  • A survey was administered to parents of children with false-positive and normal newborn screening results.
  • Participants were recruited from Pennsylvania (false-positive) and Massachusetts (normal) birth registries.
  • Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were employed to assess healthcare utilization by six months of age, controlling for covariates.

Main Results:

  • The study included 200 children with false-positive results and 137 with normal results.
  • Children with false-positive results were more likely to be non-white, have unmarried parents, and be of lower socioeconomic status due to recruitment variations.
  • After adjusting for covariates, no significant associations were found between newborn screening results and healthcare utilization.

Conclusions:

  • False-positive newborn screening results did not demonstrate a significant impact on early healthcare utilization.
  • These findings suggest that the primary medical costs associated with false-positive results are confined to diagnostic testing and follow-up procedures.
  • The study contributes to the economic evaluation of newborn screening programs by clarifying the impact on healthcare resource use.
Abstract

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