Health Service Use and Costs Associated with Low Birth Weight--A Population Level Analysis

Area of Science:

• Perinatal Health
• Health Services Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Low birth weight (LBW) is a significant public health concern with potential long-term implications for healthcare resource utilization.
• Understanding the economic burden associated with LBW infants is crucial for resource allocation and policy development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare first-year health services utilization (HSU) costs between low birth weight (LBW) and normal birth weight (NBW) infants.
• To identify maternal and child factors associated with HSU costs in the first year of life.
• To estimate the annual HSU cost attributable to LBW infants in Alberta, Canada.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study utilizing linked health administrative data from Alberta, Canada (2004-2010).
• Inclusion of all live births within the study period, with HSU data extracted from inpatient, outpatient, and practitioner claims.
• Analysis focused on HSU costs within the first year of life.

Main Results:

• One-year HSU costs were substantially higher for LBW infants ($33,096) compared to NBW infants ($3942).
• A strong negative correlation existed between HSU costs and birth weight, with extreme LBW infants incurring costs up to $117,000.
• LBW infants, representing 7% of births, accounted for 37% of total healthcare costs, totaling $108 million annually in Alberta.

Conclusions:

• LBW infants require significantly more healthcare resources throughout their first year, including initial hospitalization, re-hospitalizations, and outpatient/physician visits.
• Maternal factors like pre-pregnancy weight, Indigenous status, and lower socioeconomic status were linked to increased infant HSU costs.
• Targeted interventions addressing social determinants of health are recommended to improve birth weight and reduce associated healthcare expenditures in Alberta.