Londoño Trujillo Darío, Taborda Restrepo Paula Andrea, De la Hoz María Camila, Burgos Castro Juan Carlos, Arbelaez Vargas Joan Sebastian, Pineda Ruiz Diana María
Population Health Division, Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá, Bogotá 110111, Colombia.
School of Medicine, Unviersity of Andes, Bogotá 110111, Colombia.
Nutrients. 2024 Dec 13;16(24):4302. doi: 10.3390/nu16244302.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Child malnutrition is a critical public health concern that significantly hampers children's physical and mental development and imposes serious economic burdens. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that malnutrition is responsible for half of all deaths among children under five, leading to long-term consequences such as lower educational achievement, decreased productivity, and deepened poverty. This study aims to estimate the burden of child malnutrition in Colombia for children up to four years old, assessing both direct and indirect costs from a societal perspective.
A Markov chain model was utilized to simulate six health states related to malnutrition, integrating direct and indirect costs. Epidemiological data and international literature informed the transition probabilities between states, while caregiver surveys were conducted to capture the indirect costs.
The study found that malnutrition accounted for 419.84 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 1000 inhabitants. The total cost of malnutrition over a four-year period was approximately USD 243.58 million, with an annual average of USD 60.89 million, of which 65% of the burden fell on households.
Child malnutrition in Colombia presents a considerable burden on health systems, households, and the national economy, demonstrating the need for robust interventions to mitigate its long-term socioeconomic impact.
背景/目标：儿童营养不良是一个严重的公共卫生问题，严重阻碍儿童的身心发展，并带来沉重的经济负担。世界卫生组织（WHO）估计，营养不良导致五岁以下儿童死亡总数的一半，会产生长期后果，如教育成就降低、生产力下降和贫困加剧。本研究旨在估计哥伦比亚四岁以下儿童的营养不良负担，从社会角度评估直接和间接成本。
采用马尔可夫链模型模拟与营养不良相关的六种健康状态，整合直接和间接成本。状态之间的转移概率依据流行病学数据和国际文献确定，同时进行照顾者调查以获取间接成本。
研究发现，每1000名居民中，营养不良导致419.84个伤残调整生命年（DALYs）。四年期间营养不良的总成本约为2.4358亿美元，年均6089万美元，其中65%的负担落在家庭身上。
哥伦比亚的儿童营养不良给卫生系统、家庭和国民经济带来了相当大的负担，表明需要采取有力干预措施来减轻其长期社会经济影响。
