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\nBirth Defects Research (Part A) has released a study online: \u201cHospital Use, Associated Costs, and Payer Status for Infants Born with Spina Bifida.\u201d You can read the article\u2019s abstract hereexternal icon. See below for a summary of the findings from this article.
\nAbout 18% of babies with spina bifida had more than three hospital stays initiated in their first year of life. The presence of other birth defects seemed to influence the length of stay in the hospital and hospital costs. Infants who had private insurance only or who had a mix of public and private insurance had fewer hospital stays. Further research should focus on what factors might lead to longer hospital stays or higher costs.
\nWhat is spina bifida?
Spina bifida is a condition that affects the spine and is present at birth. It is a type of neural tube defect. The neural tube is a structure in an embryo that develops into the brain and spinal cord. Spina bifida happens when the neural tube does not form properly anywhere along the spine. The backbone that protects the spinal cord also does not form properly, resulting in damage to the spinal cord and nerves. Spina bifida might cause physical and mental disabilities that range from mild to severe. The severity depends on
Each year, about 1,500 babies are born with spina bifida in the United States[1].
\nWhat were the results of this study?
This study was a state-wide, population-based analysis of infants with spina bifida. Population-based means that the researchers look at the hospital records of all babies born with spina bifida who live in a defined study area. This type of study is important to get a complete picture of what is happening within this population. All infants in this study were born in Florida between 1998 and 2007. Infants were identified by the Florida Birth Defects Registry and linked to hospital discharge records.
What does this study add?
Unlike previous studies, this study looked at costs related to both public and private insurance. In addition, this study looked at type of insurance by length of hospital stay, estimated hospital costs, and number of hospital stays initiated in the first year of life per hospital admission and per child. This is unique information that has not been previously studied.
Information from this study may be important to health services researchers as they look at access to care for infants with spina bifida and other birth defects. A better understanding of the patterns of hospital use and costs associated with spina bifida and other birth defects may be useful in program planning and policy development. Ultimately, this could contribute to improved health care delivery, quality of care, and improved health outcomes for infants born with these conditions and their families.
\nCDC\u2019s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) is committed to learning more about health service use and costs associated with birth defects:
\nRadcliff E, Cassell CH, Tanner JP, et al. Hospital use, associated costs, and payer status for infants born with spina bifida. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2012; 94(12):1044-1053.
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