The Cost of Childhood Unintentional Injuries and the Value of Prevention

Abstract

Cost data are useful in comparing various health problems, assessing risks, setting research priorities, and selecting interventions that most efficiently reduce health burdens. Using analyses of national and state data sets, this article presents data on the frequency, costs, and quality-of-life losses associated with unintentional childhood injuries in 1996. The frequency, severity, potential for death and disability, and costs of unintentional injury make it a leading childhood health problem. Unintentional childhood injuries in 1996 resulted in an estimated $14 billion in lifetime medical spending, $1 billion in other resource costs, and $66 billion in present and future work losses. These injuries imposed quality-of-life losses equivalent to 92,400 child deaths. Since Medicaid and other government sources paid for 39% of the days children spent in hospitals due to unintentional injuries, the government has a financial interest in, and arguably a responsibility for, assuring the safety of disadvantaged children. Federal agencies, however, devote relatively few public dollars to injury prevention research and programming. Several proven child safety interventions cost less than the medical and other resource costs they save. Thus, governments, managed care companies, and third-party payers could save money by encouraging the routine use of selected child safety measures such as child safety seats, bicycle helmets, and smoke detectors. Yet, these and other proven injury prevention interventions are not universally implemented.

Child injuries in Bergen, Norway

“…In this way the price of effective prevention can be shown to be economically worthwhile. 108 According to a study by Kopjar,83 the average direct medical cost per injury was estimated to NOK 3,807 (1994 price level) or US$ 163. The cost per hospitalized patient was NOK 24,831 and per outpatient NOK 1,011.…”

“…Because of the high frequency of small injuries that keep children at home from school for a few days with one of their parents, the total work loss for the adult is a major cost for society. Using analysis of US national and state datasets, Miller et al 108 found that childhood injuries accounted for approximately 15% of medical spendings from ages 1-19. Fatal injuries involved less than 1% of all injuries in 1996, but accounted for more than 17% of injury related costs.…”

Pediatric Mortality andPreventable Death at a Mature Trauma Center

“…Over 10 million children annually require hospital care for the evaluation and treatment of traumatic injuries and the cost of pediatric trauma is estimated to be approximately $14 billion in lifetime medical spending [1]. In light of its overall physical, emotional and financial impact, pediatric injury is considered a major public health problem in the United States [2].…”

Impacto de una campaña escolar de prevención de riesgo

“…Por esta razón, las intervenciones para prevenir accidentes infantiles deben incluir cambios sociales y ambientales, sin olvidar los cam-bios de conducta en el niño, en la familia y los cambios en la exposición a productos peligrosos (Damashek y Peterson, 2002;Dilillo, Perterson y Farmer, 2002;Girasek y Gielen, 2003;Towner, Carter y Hayes, 1998;Towner, Dowswell y Jarvis, 2001;Towner y Dowswell, 2002). Algunos autores señalan que la mayoría de las lesiones involuntarias de los niños/as se podrían prevenir adoptando algunas medidas que supondrían unos gastos inferiores a los que se destinan al tratamiento de las mismas y a sus secuelas (Miller, Romano y Spice, 2000). La mayoría de las lesiones que sufren los niños/as podrían ser prevenidas si se coordinaran una educación efectiva, el diseño de artículos protectores, una legislación apropiada y la implantación de estrategias de supervisión para asegurar la aplicación de medidas preventivas (Bruce y McGrath, 2005;Dannenberg y Fowler, 1998;Dowd, Keenan y Bratton, 2002;Dowswell, Towner, Simpson y Jarvis, 1996;Johnston y Rivara, 2003;Tremblay y Peterson, 1999;Rivara, 2002).…”