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Economic costs of birth defects and cerebral palsy--United States, 1992
Insights
Birth defects are a leading cause of infant mortality. This study estimates the economic burden of cerebral palsy and 17 structural birth defects in the U.S. to inform prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Birth defects represent a significant cause of infant mortality and lost life years in the U.S.
- Accurate economic cost estimation for birth defects is lacking, hindering the evaluation of prevention strategies.
- An incidence-based cost of illness approach is crucial for assessing the value of preventing birth defects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the economic cost of illness for cerebral palsy and 17 major structural birth defects in the United States.
- To provide a foundation for evaluating the economic impact of prevention initiatives for birth defects.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an incidence-based approach to estimate the cost per new case.
- Employed data from California, adjusted for national estimates.
- Incorporated national data for comprehensive cost analysis.
Main Results:
- Estimated the economic costs associated with cerebral palsy and 17 structural birth defects in the U.S. for the year 1992.
- The findings provide a baseline for the economic burden of these conditions.
Conclusions:
- Accurate cost estimation is vital for understanding the impact of birth defects.
- The incidence-based approach offers a valuable method for assessing the economic benefits of prevention strategies.
- This study highlights the substantial economic implications of birth defects, underscoring the need for effective interventions.
Abstract:
Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality in the United States and the fifth leading cause of years of potential life lost (1,2). Despite the substantial allocation of medical and nonmedical resources to the care and support of persons with birth defects, the economic costs of such defects have not been estimated accurately. Because estimates of the cost per new case of a birth defect represent the savings from preventing a case, an incidence-based approach enables assessment of the value of prevention strategies. This approach was used to estimate the cost of illness for cerebral palsy and for 17 of the most clinically important structural birth defects in the United States. This report uses data from California (adjusted to provide national estimates) and national data (Table 1) to estimate the costs of these 18 conditions occurring in the United States during 1992.