Waitzman N J, Romano P S, Scheffler R M
Department of Economics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112.
Inquiry. 1994 Summer;31(2):188-205.
Birth defects now are the leading cause of infant mortality and a major contributor to heightened morbidity in the United States. Considerable medical and nonmedical resources are devoted to treating persons with birth defects. Yet, little is known about birth defects' economic burden to society and the profile of component direct and indirect costs over the lifespan of those born with specific birth defects. Using an incidence approach, we made the most comprehensive estimates to date of the cost of 18 of the most clinically significant birth defects in the United States. Our analysis provides the basis for assessing competing strategies for research and prevention.
出生缺陷如今是美国婴儿死亡的主要原因，也是导致发病率上升的一个主要因素。大量的医疗和非医疗资源被用于治疗出生缺陷患者。然而，对于出生缺陷给社会带来的经济负担以及特定出生缺陷患者一生中直接和间接成本的构成情况，我们知之甚少。我们采用发病率方法，对美国18种临床上最显著的出生缺陷的成本进行了迄今为止最全面的估算。我们的分析为评估研究和预防的竞争策略提供了依据。
