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Tonsillectomy compared to acute tonsillitis in children: a comparison study of societal costs
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg, Genk, Belgium.
Insights
Tonsillectomy in children incurs societal costs 1.4 times higher than severe throat infections. Watchful waiting for recurrent tonsillitis leads to greater economic loss due to parental work absenteeism.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Tonsillectomy is a common pediatric surgery for recurrent tonsillitis and adenotonsillar hypertrophy.
- While tonsillectomy's effectiveness is accepted, its socio-economic impact requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine and compare the societal costs of tonsillectomy versus severe throat infections in children.
Main Methods:
- Cost analysis of surgical procedures, hospital stays, and work-related disability.
- Utilized questionnaires from 275 parents and data from Belgian institutions (NIS, FOD) to calculate costs.
Main Results:
- Parental work absenteeism was longer for acute tonsillitis (3.1 days) than tonsillectomy (2.2 days).
- Economic productivity loss was higher for acute tonsillitis (613-759 Euros) compared to tonsillectomy (435-539 Euros).
- Medical costs were 535 Euros for tonsillectomy versus 46 Euros for acute tonsillitis.
Conclusions:
- Societal cost of tonsillectomy is 1.4 times that of severe throat infection.
- Watchful waiting for recurrent tonsillitis is more costly than tonsillectomy due to cumulative parental absenteeism costs.
Introduction And Aim:
Tonsillectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in children; its main indications are recurrent episodes of acute tonsillitis and adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The effectiveness of tonsillectomy for severe recurrent tonsillitis is generally accepted; however its socio-economic cost is less well investigated. This study aims to determine and compare the societal cost of a tonsillectomy and a severe throat infection.
Materials And Methods:
The costs for both tonsillectomy and severe throat infection were evaluated. Costs of the surgical procedure and hospital stay were calculated based on resource use and personnel input at the participating hospital. The cost of work-related disability for both treatments was measured based on a questionnaire filled in by 275 parents of children undergoing a tonsillectomy. Data from two Belgian institutions (NIS and FOD) were used to calculate the cost of parents' absenteeism.
Results:
An episode of acute tonsillitis in the child results in a longer period of parents' work absenteeism (mean of 3.1 +/- 0.3 days) compared to tonsillectomy (2.2 +/- 0.2 days). The cost of economic productivity loss amounts to 613 Euros (NIS) or 759 Euros (FOD) for acute tonsillitis and 435 Euros (NIS) or 539 Euros (FOD) for a tonsillectomy. The medical costs linked to the surgical procedure at the local department correspond to 535 Euros and for an acute tonsillitis to 46 Euros.
Conclusions:
From societal perspective, a tonsillectomy costs the equivalent of 1.4 times the cost of a severe throat infection. This indicates that in children suffering from recurrent acute tonsillitis, watchful waiting results in a higher cost compared to tonsillectomy, given the cumulative costs of parents' absenteeism.
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