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Use of In vivo Imaging to Monitor the Progression of Experimental Mouse Cytomegalovirus Infection in Neonates
Published on: July 6, 2013
Healthcare costs attributable to congenital cytomegalovirus infection
Marjolein J Korndewal1,2, Marlies Weltevrede1, M Elske van den Akker-van Marle3
1Center for Infectious Diseases, Epidemiology and Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Insights
Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection leads to higher healthcare costs in early childhood, particularly for children with long-term impairment. These findings are crucial for evaluating cCMV prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare Economics
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection can result in immediate symptoms and lifelong disabilities.
- Estimating the economic burden of cCMV is essential for understanding its societal impact and informing prevention efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the healthcare costs associated with congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection in early childhood in the Netherlands.
- To compare healthcare resource utilization and associated costs between children with and without cCMV.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide retrospective cohort study identified 156 children with cCMV from 31,484 neonatal dried blood spots.
- Healthcare resource use in the first six years of life was analyzed for cCMV-positive children and a matched control group.
- Mean costs per child were calculated by multiplying healthcare resource use by reference prices.
Main Results:
- Mean healthcare costs for children with cCMV (€6113) were higher than for children without cCMV (€3570), though not statistically significant.
- Children with cCMV and long-term impairment incurred costs twice as high (€17,205) compared to controls (€8332).
Conclusions:
- Children with cCMV, especially those with long-term impairment or symptomatic at birth, incur higher healthcare costs in early childhood.
- The economic impact highlights the importance of evaluating and implementing preventive measures against cCMV.
Objective:
Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) can cause symptoms at birth as well as long-term impairment. This study estimates cCMV-related healthcare costs in the Netherlands in early childhood.
Design, Setting And Patients:
In a nationwide retrospective cohort study, 156 children with cCMV were identified by testing 31 484 neonatal dried blood spots for cCMV. Use of healthcare resources in the first 6 years of life by children with cCMV and a matched cCMV-negative control group were analysed. Mean costs per child were calculated by multiplying healthcare resource use by its reference prices.
Exposure:
Children with cCMV were compared with cCMV-negative children.
Main Outcome Measures:
The average total healthcare costs per child were based on the average costs for hospital admissions and consultations by healthcare providers.
Results:
Mean healthcare costs of children with cCMV (€6113, n=133) were higher than children without cCMV (€3570, n=274), although statistically not significant, with a mean difference of €2544 (95% CI €-451 to €5538). The costs of children with long-term impairment were two times higher in children with cCMV (€17 205) compared with children without cCMV (€8332).
Conclusions:
Children with cCMV, especially those with long-term impairment and those symptomatic at birth, accrue higher healthcare costs than cCMV-negative children in the first 6 years of life, although this is not statistically significant. This economic impact is of importance in the evaluation of preventive measures against cCMV.
Trial Registration Number:
NTR3582.
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