Societal costs of fetal alcohol syndrome in Sweden

Abstract

ObjectiveTo estimate the annual societal cost of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in Sweden, focusing on the secondary disabilities thought feasible to limit via early interventions.MethodsPrevalence-based cost-of-illness analysis of FAS in Sweden for 2014. Direct costs (societal support, special education, psychiatric disorders and alcohol/drug abuse) and indirect costs (reduced working capacity and informal caring), were included. The calculations were based on published Swedish studies, including a register-based follow-up study of adults with FAS, reports and databases, and experts.ResultsThe annual total societal cost of FAS was estimated at €76,000 per child (0–17 years) and €110,000 per adult (18–74 years), corresponding to €1.6 billion per year in the Swedish population using a prevalence of FAS of 0.2 %. The annual additional cost of FAS (difference between the FAS group and a comparison group) was estimated at €1.4 billion using a prevalence of 0.2 %. The major cost driver was the cost of societal support.ConclusionsThe cost burden of FAS on the society is extensive, but likely to be underestimated. A reduction in the societal costs of FAS, both preventive and targeted interventions to children with FAS, should be prioritized. That is, the cost of early interventions such as placement in family homes or other forms of housing, and special education, represent unavoidable costs. However, these types of interventions are highly relevant to improve the individual’s quality of life and future prospects, and also, within a long-term perspective, to limit the societal costs and personal suffering.

Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Affects Progenitor Cell Numbers in Olfactory Bulbs and Dentate Gyrus of Vervet Monkeys

“…Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a non-diagnostic umbrella term that encompasses the range of these impairments [3,4]. The actual prevalence of FASD remains elusive [5,6]. Estimates from South Africa place the incidence of FASD at about 5.9%–9.1% [7]; in North America, an incidence of 2%–5% has been reported [6,8], and in rural and isolated communities, the estimate may be as high as 26% [9,10,11].…”

“…Estimates from South Africa place the incidence of FASD at about 5.9%–9.1% [7]; in North America, an incidence of 2%–5% has been reported [6,8], and in rural and isolated communities, the estimate may be as high as 26% [9,10,11]. The lifetime cost of FASD has been estimated to be up to $2 million per individual [12,13] in North America, but Swedish estimates place the societal cost of FAE between €76,000–110,000 per year per individual when factoring in direct (education, psychiatric disorders and alcohol/drug abuse) and indirect (e.g., reduced earning capacity) costs [5]. The overall cost of FASD to the individual and society is likely to be much higher [3,14,15].…”

Gene expression in the mouse brain following early pregnancy exposure to ethanol

“…Behavioural and cognitive deficits reported in individuals exposed to alcohol in utero include intellectual impairment, learning and memory difficulties, diminished executive functioning, attention problems, poor motor function and hyperactivity [2]. The economic and social costs of these outcomes are substantial and profound [3], [4]. Improvement of neurobehavioural outcomes following prenatal alcohol exposure requires greater understanding of the mechanisms of alcohol-induced damage to the brain.…”

Understanding the Relationship between Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Criminal Justice: A Systematic Review

“…It should be pointed out that FASD entails high public costs both for healthcare and the juridical system. On the one hand, there are the costs of the health measures to support the affected subjects and their relatives; on the other hand, there are the costs related both to the trial and to the social impact of the criminal act [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. A study conducted by Canadian researchers in 2009 estimated the annual costs associated with FASD at the individual level to be CAD 21,642 [ 15 ].…”