Related Experiment Videos
The frequency and financial burden of genetic disease in a pediatric hospital
Insights
Genetic disorders lead to more frequent hospital admissions and longer stays, with families bearing a higher financial burden. Many patients with genetic conditions do not receive genetic counseling.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Medical Genetics
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Genetic disorders represent a significant portion of pediatric hospital admissions.
- Understanding the healthcare utilization and financial impact of genetic conditions is crucial for resource allocation and patient support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the frequency, duration, and cost of hospital admissions for pediatric patients with genetic disorders compared to those with non-genetic conditions.
- To assess the financial burden on families and the utilization of third-party coverage for genetic versus non-genetic conditions.
- To evaluate the accessibility of genetic counseling services for patients diagnosed with genetic illnesses.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical charts from a general pediatric hospital, encompassing 4,115 admissions from selected months in 1973.
- Categorization of patients into five groups: clearly genetic disorders, multifactorial disorders, developmental anomalies, familial conditions, and non-genetic conditions.
- Analysis of admission frequency, length of hospitalization, total cost, third-party coverage, and out-of-pocket expenses.
Main Results:
- Patients with genetic disorders had significantly more admissions (average 5.3 vs. 1.6) and longer hospital stays (3.4 days vs. 2.5 days) compared to non-genetic patients.
- Despite lower daily costs, the total hospitalization cost was similar due to increased admissions; families of genetic patients paid out-of-pocket more often (30.5% vs. 15.6%).
- Only a quarter of patients with genetic illnesses received genetic counseling, indicating a gap in service provision.
Conclusions:
- Genetic disorders impose a greater healthcare utilization burden on pediatric patients and their families.
- There is a substantial unmet need for genetic counseling services among pediatric patients with genetic conditions.
- Healthcare systems and policymakers should consider the long-term impact and financial implications of genetic disorders on families.
Abstract:
Medical charts from 1973 were reviewed from a general pediatric hospital whose admissions comprise 55% of those in the surrounding metropolitan area. The study population (4,115) was selected by using charts from January, March, May, July, September, and November of that year. The patients were categorized by diagnosis as to I) clearly genetic disorders, II) multifactorial disorders, III) developmental anomalies, IV) familial conditions, or V) nongenetic conditions. Of all admissions, 4.5% had genetic disorders (0.6% chromosmal, 1.2% autosomal dominant, 2.2% autosomal recessive, 0.5% X-linked recessive); 22.1% had multifactorial/polygenic conditions; 13.6% developmental anomalies; 13.2% familial disorders, and 46.6% nongenetic disorders. Patients with clearly genetic disorders (category I) were found to have had an average of 5.3 admissions as compared to 1.6 for patients with nongenetic conditions (category V). Of genetic patients (category I) 12.8% had more than 20 admissions as compared to only 1.2% for all patients studied (categories I-V). The length of hospitalization for genetic patients was 3.4 days as compared to 3.0 for all patients and 2.5 for nongenetic patients. Although the cost per day for genetic patients, exclusive of physicians' fees, was lower than for all patients, the total cost of hospitalization was the same (($450.98 as compared to $446.99 for all patients). Of all patients, 60.2% studied had third-party coverage, whereas only 43.8% of genetic patients did. Of all patients, 15.6% paid "out of their pockets" whereas 30.5% of genetic patients did. This study suggests that genetic patients have many more admissions which are slightly more expensive; that they stay longer in hospital; that they travel farther, and that their families end up paying the bill more often. No unusual differences in religion, race, age, or parents' marital status or occupation were found. It was remarkable that only one quarter of patients with genetic illness had received genetic counseling.