Costs and Health Utilities Associated with Extremely Preterm Birth: Evidence from the EPICure Study

Abstract

The results of this study should be used to inform the development of future economic evaluations of interventions aimed at preventing extremely preterm birth or alleviating its effects.

Impact of Very Preterm Birth on Health Care Costs at Five Years of Age

“…The fifth-year costs amounted to 1% to 2% of the costs of the first year of life 8 ; however, the costs at 11 years of age were still higher in extremely preterm children compared with the control children when including also educational and social welfare costs. 11 Our study on the total hospitalization costs during the first 4 years of life for children who were born very preterm showed similar results: the initial hospital costs composed 79% of the total costs, and thereafter the costs decreased each year. 12 In addition, individuals with prematurity-associated morbidities used significantly more hospital resources during the first 4 years of life than those without these morbidities.…”

Economic Outcomes in Young Adulthood for Extremely Low Birth Weight Survivors

“…20 Adult outcomes of our cohort remain relevant, however, because similar data are not yet available for cohorts born in more-recent years and because, on the basis of evidence in childhood, the distribution of outcomes for ELBW survivors seems not to have changed substantially. 21,22 An emerging body of evidence suggests that survivors born ELBW, or at least several weeks preterm, achieve lower educational attainment and poorer labor market outcomes than do those born at term, but also that the deficits are not extremely large for most survivors. Several European studies used data from national registers, grouped individuals according to gestational age, and compared outcomes for various groups of preterm infants with those for infants born at term (Ͼ36 weeks of gestation), with adjustment for potentially confounding family background variables.…”

Economic costs associated with moderate and late preterm birth: a prospective population‐based study

“…39,40 Furthermore, the rigorous costing methodology applied followed national guidance for health economic evaluation purposes. 30,41 A number of caveats must be borne in mind.…”