Med News Today

Pediatric Head Trauma Significant Health Care Cost

A study published in the August isue of Pediatrics indicates "Pediatric traumatic brain injury is a substantial contributor to the health resource burden in the United States, accounting for more than $1 billion in total hospital charges annually."

Researchers at the Center for Injury Research and Policy (CIRP) in the Columbus Children's Research Institute at Columbus Children's Hospital conducted the study.

Exerpt:

An analysis was conducted of data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database from January 1 through December 31, 2000, which included 2,784 hospitals in 27 states. Based on these data, there were an estimated 50,658 TBI-associated hospitalizations among children 17 years of age and younger in that year, with 15- to 17-year-old patients accounting for the highest hospitalization rate. TBI includes such diagnoses as skull fractures, intracranial bleeding, concussions, and shaken baby syndrome.

“Based on our research, pediatric TBI patients accrue more than $1 billion in total hospital charges annually,” said CIRP Director Gary Smith, MD, DrPH, the senior author of the study and a faculty member of The Ohio State University (OSU) College of Medicine. “Injury costs for children are often greater than those for adults because they include acute treatment, long-term rehabilitation and loss of productivity for the parent or guardian. TBIs resulting from unintentional trauma constitute the primary cause of death among U.S. youth and are often the most serious consequences of nonfatal injuries.”

posted by nattietodd @ 11:07 AM