Cost analysis of singleton versus twin pregnancies after in vitro fertilization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the difference in costs between singleton and twin pregnancies after IVF treatment from pregnancy to 6 weeks after delivery from a health care perspective.


METHODS
Retrospective cost analysis.


METHODS
IVF department at the University Medical Center Nijmegen, The Netherlands.


METHODS
A representative sample of singleton and twin pregnancies after IVF treatment between 1995 and 2001 at the University Medical Center Nijmegen.


METHODS
IVF with or without intracytoplasmic sperm injection and with or without cryopreservation.


METHODS
Medical costs per singleton and twin pregnancy after IVF.


RESULTS
In patients pregnant with twins, the incidence of hospital antenatal care, complicated vaginal deliveries, and cesarean sections was higher and was associated with more frequent and longer maternal and neonatal hospital admissions. Maternal and neonatal hospital admissions were the major cost drivers. The medical cost per twin pregnancy was found to be more than five times higher than per singleton pregnancy, 13,469 and 2,550, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The medical cost per twin pregnancy was more than 10,000 higher than per singleton pregnancy. A reduction in the number of twin pregnancies by elective single ET will save substantial amounts of money. This money might be used for the additional IVF cycles that will probably be needed to achieve similar success rates between single ET and two-embryo transfer.
Lukassen
H G Marieke
HG
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Medical Center Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. m.lukassen@obgyn.umcn.nl
Schönbeck
Yvonne
Y
Adang
Eddy M M
EM
Braat
Didi D M
DD
Zielhuis
Gerhard A
GA
Kremer
Jan A M
JA
D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D014427:Twins