Congenital hypothyroidism control programs. A cost-benefit analysis.
Comprehensive screening programs to control congenital hypothyroidism (CH), a preventable form of mental retardation, are being considered by some public health agencies. The proposed programs would test neonates' blood for thyroxine and, if warranted, provide follow-up testing and therapy. The estimated cost of detecting a single case of CH is $9,300, which includes specimen collection, laboratory analysis, and retesting of border-line cases. The present value of the treatment costs of CH adds $2,500 per case, a total cost of $11,800 per case detected and child treated. The economic benefits (averted costs of institutionalization and special education and increased productivity of the affected person) are estimated to have a present value of $105,000 per case, yielding a cost-benefit ratio of 1:8.9.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003409:Congenital Hypothyroidism; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004495:Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007326:Institutionalization / Q000191:economics; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014481:United States