Medical Costs of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits in Children Aged Younger Than 5 Years: Observational Findings from the New Vaccine Surveillance Network, 2016-2019.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2024
Identifier
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114045
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess medical costs of hospitalizations and emergency department (ED) care associated with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease in children enrolled in the New Vaccine Surveillance Network.
STUDY DESIGN: We used accounting and prospective surveillance data from 6 pediatric health systems to assess direct medical costs from laboratory-confirmed RSV-associated hospitalizations (n = 2007) and ED visits (n = 1267) from 2016 through 2019 among children agedχ2 tests of association.
RESULTS: The median cost was $7100 (IQR $4006-$13 355) per hospitalized child and $503 (IQR $387-$930) per ED visit. Eighty percent (n = 2628) of our final sample were children aged younger than 2 years. Fewer weeks' gestational age was associated with greater median costs in hospitalized children (P < .001, ≥37 weeks of gestational age: $6840 [$3905-$12 450]; 29-36 weeks of gestational age: $7721 [$4362-$15 274]; < 29 weeks of gestational age: $9131 [$4518-$19 924]). Infants born full term accounted for 70% of the total expenditures in our sample. Almost three quarters of the health care dollars spent originated in children younger than 12 months of age, the primary age group targeted by recommended RSV prophylactics.
CONCLUSIONS: Reducing the cost burden for RSV-associated medical care in young children will require prevention of RSV in all young children, not just high-risk infants. Newly available maternal vaccine and immunoprophylaxis products could substantially reduce RSV-associated medical costs.
Journal Title
The Journal of pediatrics
Volume
271
First Page
114045
Last Page
114045
MeSH Keywords
Humans; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections; Emergency Service, Hospital; Infant; Hospitalization; Child, Preschool; Female; Male; United States; Prospective Studies; Health Care Costs; Infant, Newborn; Hospital Costs; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines; Emergency Room Visits
Keywords
RSV; cost; emergency department; hospitalizations; pediatrics
Recommended Citation
Clopper BR, Zhou Y, Tannis A, et al. Medical Costs of Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Associated Hospitalizations and Emergency Department Visits in Children Aged Younger Than 5 Years: Observational Findings from the New Vaccine Surveillance Network, 2016-2019. J Pediatr. 2024;271:114045. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114045
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Comments
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