Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2026
09:03
Semiconductor Sequencing for Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy
Published on: August 25, 2019
Methods for developing useful estimates of the costs associated with birth defects
1Texas Department of State Health Services, Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Mail Code 1964, P.O. Box 149347, Austin, TX 78714-9347, USA. amy.case@dshs.state.tx.us
Birth Defects Research. Part A, Clinical and Molecular Teratology
|October 16, 2009
Summary
Estimating the lifetime costs of spina bifida in Texas reveals an annual economic burden of $76 million. This study highlights the need for state-specific cost data for birth defect prevention resource allocation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Birth defect cost estimates inform resource allocation for prevention strategies.
- Spina bifida prevention efforts often focus on folic acid-preventable cases.
- Existing cost-of-illness data for spina bifida may lack state-specific applicability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the total lifetime medical and associated costs for spina bifida cases in Texas.
- To determine program-specific annual costs for spina bifida services in Texas.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Texas live birth prevalence data for spina bifida.
- Applied recent cost-of-illness estimates to a Texas birth cohort.
- Queried government programs for spina bifida service costs.
Main Results:
- Estimated $76 million in lifetime costs for an average annual Texas spina bifida birth cohort.
- Annual infant medical costs estimated at $5 million based on insurance claims.
- Annual public sector program costs for children estimated at $6 million.
Conclusions:
- State birth defects registries can provide valuable cost data for policymakers.
- Addressing information gaps requires applying prevalence data to existing estimates.
- Incorporating actual claims and program expenditures enhances state-specific cost figures.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:49Probability Laws
Overview
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when researchers try to extrapolate results...
01:07Teratogenicity
The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
01:05Estimation of the Physical Quantities
On many occasions, physicists, other scientists, and engineers need to make estimates of a particular quantity. These are sometimes referred to as guesstimates, order-of-magnitude approximations, back-of-the-envelope calculations, or Fermi calculations. The physicist Enrico Fermi was famous for his ability to estimate various kinds of data with surprising precision. Estimating does not mean guessing a number or a formula at random. Instead, estimation means using prior experience and sound...
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
01:25Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding
Confounding is a critical issue in epidemiological studies, often leading to misleading conclusions about associations between exposures and outcomes. It occurs when the relationship between the exposure and the outcome is mixed with the effects of other factors that influence the outcome. Given that, addressing confounding is of high importance for drawing accurate inferences in research.
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...