Hall E S, Greenberg J M
Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cradle Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cradle Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Public Health. 2016 Dec;141:222-228. doi: 10.1016/j.puhe.2016.09.033. Epub 2016 Oct 27.
To develop generalizable methods for estimating the economic impact of preterm birth at the community level on initial hospital expenditures, educational attainment and lost earnings as well as to estimate potential savings associated with reductions in preterm birth.
The retrospective, population-based analysis used vital statistics and population demographics from Hamilton County, Ohio, USA, in 2012.
We adjusted previously reported, mean initial hospital cost estimates (stratified by each week of gestation) to 2012 dollars using national cost-to-charge ratios. Next, we calculated excess costs attributable to prematurity and potential hospital cost savings, which could be realized by prolonging each preterm pregnancy by a single week of gestation. Using reported associations among preterm birth, educational attainment and adult earnings, we developed generalizable formulas to calculate lost academic degrees and lost income estimates attributable to preterm birth. The formulas generated estimates based on local population demographics.
The annual initial hospital cost associated with 1444 preterm infants was estimated at $93 million. In addition, over 9000 fewer college degrees and over $300 million in lost annual earnings were attributed to local adults who were born preterm. Prolonging each preterm birth by 1 week could potentially reduce initial hospital expenditures by over $25 million. Additional potential savings could be realized as healthier infants attain higher levels of education and earnings as adults.
The generalizable methods developed for estimating the economic impact of preterm birth at the community level can be used by any community in which vital statistics and population demographics are available. Cost estimates can serve to rally support for local stakeholder investment in developing strategies for preterm birth intervention leading to improved pregnancy outcomes.
制定可推广的方法，以估计社区层面早产对初始医院支出、教育程度和收入损失的经济影响，并估计与早产减少相关的潜在节省。
这项基于人群的回顾性分析使用了美国俄亥俄州汉密尔顿县2012年的生命统计数据和人口统计数据。
我们使用全国成本收费比率将先前报告的平均初始医院成本估计值（按妊娠周数分层）调整为2012年美元。接下来，我们计算了早产所致的额外成本和潜在的医院成本节省，这可以通过将每次早产妊娠延长一周来实现。利用报告的早产、教育程度和成人收入之间的关联，我们开发了可推广的公式，以计算早产所致的学位损失和收入损失估计值。这些公式根据当地人口统计数据生成估计值。
与1444名早产婴儿相关的年度初始医院成本估计为9300万美元。此外，当地早产出生的成年人导致大学学位减少9000多个，年度收入损失超过3亿美元。将每次早产延长1周可能会使初始医院支出减少超过2500万美元。随着更健康的婴儿成年后获得更高的教育水平和收入，还可以实现额外的潜在节省。
为估计社区层面早产的经济影响而开发的可推广方法可被任何有生命统计数据和人口统计数据的社区使用。成本估计可有助于争取当地利益相关者对制定早产干预策略的投资支持，从而改善妊娠结局。
