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The Economic Burden of Pediatric Postconcussive Syndrome
Daniel J Corwin1,2, Christina L Master2,3, Matthew F Grady3
1Division of Emergency Medicine, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Insights
Pediatric postconcussive syndrome (PCS) incurs significant direct costs, averaging $3557 per patient. Early intervention and cost-effective therapies are crucial for managing this condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric healthcare economics
- Sports medicine
- Neurology
Background:
- Postconcussive syndrome (PCS) in children presents a significant clinical challenge.
- Estimating the direct economic burden of pediatric PCS is essential for resource allocation and treatment planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the direct medical costs associated with pediatric postconcussive syndrome (PCS).
- To analyze the cost components of PCS management in a pediatric tertiary care setting.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 154 pediatric patients (aged 5-18) diagnosed with PCS.
- Direct costs were assessed for sports medicine visits, visio-vestibular therapy, homebound education, subspecialist referrals, and medications from 28 days post-injury.
Main Results:
- The average direct cost per patient with pediatric PCS was $3557 (95% CI: $2886-$4257).
- Major cost drivers included sports medicine visits ($1575) and visio-vestibular therapy ($985).
Conclusions:
- Pediatric PCS represents a substantial economic burden.
- Developing cost-effective therapies for PCS may offer significant financial benefits and improve patient outcomes.
Objective:
To estimate the direct costs of pediatric postconcussive syndrome (PCS).
Design:
Retrospective cohort study.
Setting:
Subspecialty sports medicine clinics of a large pediatric tertiary care network in the United States.
Patients:
One hundred fifty-four patients aged 5 to 18 years with PCS, evaluated between 2010 and 2011.
Assessment Of Independent Variables:
Direct costs included visits to sports medicine clinic, visio-vestibular therapy, homebound education, subspecialist referral, and prescription-only medications (amantadine and amitriptyline), all measured beginning at 28 days after injury.
Main Outcome Measures:
Postconcussive syndrome was defined as persistence beyond 28 days from injury.
Results:
The cost incurred by each PCS patient for sports medicine visits was $1575, for visio-vestibular therapy was $985, for homebound tutoring was $55, for prescription medications was $22, and for subspecialist referral was $120, totaling $3557 per patient, with a 95% confidence interval range of $2886 to $4257.
Conclusions:
Given the high economic costs of PCS determined in this study, therapies that mitigate this syndrome may have the potential to be cost-effective and even cost saving.
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