Inpatient Hospitalization Charges for Children With Birth Defects in Texas, 2021-2023

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare Economics
• Public Health Data Analysis
• Congenital Anomalies

Background:

• Birth defects necessitate complex pediatric medical care, leading to elevated healthcare expenditures.
• Recent Texas-specific data on the economic impact of birth defects are limited, hindering effective resource planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the economic burden of birth defects among pediatric hospitalizations in Texas.
• To provide updated, Texas-specific data on hospitalization charges associated with birth defects.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of Texas pediatric hospital discharge data (2021-2023).
• Identification of hospitalizations with birth defects using ICD-10 codes (Q00-Q99).
• Comparison of median inflation-adjusted hospitalization charges between children with and without birth defects, including subgroup analyses (e.g., ICU stays).

Main Results:

• Birth defects accounted for 12.5% of pediatric hospitalizations in Texas, generating over $26 billion in charges (34.9% of total).
• Median hospitalization charges for children with birth defects ($12,876) were significantly higher than for those without ($7,813) (p < 0.001).
• Elevated charges were consistent across various subgroups, including Intensive Care Unit (ICU) hospitalizations.

Conclusions:

• Inpatient hospitalizations for pediatric birth defects represent a disproportionately large financial burden in Texas.
• The findings underscore the significant economic impact of birth defects on the state's healthcare spending.