Inpatient Hospitalization Costs Associated with Birth Defects Among Persons Aged <65 Years - United States, 2019

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Healthcare Economics
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• Medical treatments and costs are evolving, requiring updated estimates for birth defect-related hospitalizations.
• Accurate cost data is crucial for understanding the financial burden of birth defects across the lifespan.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the service delivery costs of hospitalizations associated with birth defects in the United States for individuals under 65 years old.
• To assess the proportion of healthcare costs attributable to birth defect-related hospitalizations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the 2019 National Inpatient Sample.
• Analyzed hospitalizations with documented birth defects as discharge diagnoses for patients younger than 65 years.

Main Results:

• Estimated total hospitalization costs for birth defects in 2019 were $22.2 billion in the US.
• Birth defect hospitalizations represented 4.1% of all hospitalizations and 7.7% of inpatient medical costs for individuals under 65.

Conclusions:

• Updated hospitalization cost estimates provide critical information on healthcare resource utilization and financial impact of birth defects.
• Findings underscore the necessity of addressing the ongoing healthcare needs of individuals with birth defects for optimal health outcomes.