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Economic burden of physical activity-related injuries in Dutch children aged 10-12
Dorine C M Collard1, Evert A L M Verhagen, Willem van Mechelen
1Department of Public and Occupational Health, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Childhood injuries from physical activities are costly. Upper extremity and leisure time injuries incur the highest expenses, highlighting the need for targeted prevention programs to reduce healthcare and indirect costs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Sports Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Physical activity-related injuries are frequent in children.
- These injuries incur significant direct and indirect economic costs.
- A comprehensive economic burden analysis for pediatric injuries was previously unavailable.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the economic burden of injuries sustained by children during physical activities.
- To identify specific injury types and activities associated with higher costs.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 996 children in Dutch primary schools.
- Continuous injury monitoring by physical education teachers during the 2006-2007 school year.
- Cost diaries collected from parents to track direct and indirect expenses from a societal perspective.
Main Results:
- 119 injuries reported in 104 children over one school year.
- Mean total injury cost was €188 ± 317.
- Upper extremity injuries and leisure time activities resulted in the highest costs, with direct costs significantly exceeding indirect costs.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric physical activity injuries represent a substantial economic burden.
- Interventions targeting upper extremity and leisure time injuries could mitigate healthcare and indirect costs.
- Preventing these common childhood injuries is crucial for economic savings.
Background:
Injuries in children occur most often in physical activity-related activities. A lot of these injuries result in direct and indirect costs. A detailed overview of the economic burden of those injuries in children is lacking.
Method:
A prospective study was conducted with 996 children in Dutch primary schools to describe the economic burden of injuries that occur during organised sports, leisure time and physical education (PE) class activities. Injuries were continuously monitored by PE teachers during the school year 2006-2007. An injury was recorded if it occurred during PE class, leisure time or organised sports activity and caused the child to at least stop the current activity. If an injury was recorded, parents received a cost diary to report the direct and indirect costs of the child's injury. Costs were collected from a societal perspective.
Results:
During one school year, a total of 119 injuries were reported by 104 children. The mean total costs as a result of an injury were €188 ± 317. The mean direct costs as a result of an injury were much higher than the mean indirect costs (€131 ± 213 and €57 ± 159, respectively). The highest costs were found for upper extremity and leisure time injuries.
Conclusion:
Physical activity-related injuries are common in children and result in medical costs. Injuries that lead to the highest costs are those that occur during leisure time activities and upper extremity injuries. Intervention programmes for children to prevent upper extremity injuries and leisure time activity injuries may reduce direct (ie, healthcare) and indirect costs.
Trial Registration:
ISRCTN78846684.
