The economic burden of pervasive developmental disorders in a privately insured population.
The objective of this study was to compare health care costs and utilization in children with pervasive developmental disorders (PDDs), asthma, or diabetes. Data for this investigation were derived from a large U.S. commercial insurance plan. Total cost per child and number of outpatient claims were significantly higher six months prediagnosis and 12 months postdiagnosis for PDD (N = 470) than for asthma (N = 550) or diabetes (N = 475). Controlling for age, gender, insurance plan, and prediagnosis costs, total cost per child during the postdiagnosis period was higher for PDD than for asthma or diabetes. Privately insured children with a PDD incur significantly greater costs and utilization and significantly more outpatient services than privately insured children with diabetes or asthma.
Flanders
Scott C
SC
Regional Outcomes Research, Ortho McNeil-Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, Titusville, New Jersey, USA. sflander@omjus.jnj.com
Engelhart
Luella
L
Whitworth
Julie
J
Hussein
Mohamed A
MA
Vanderpoel
Daniel R
DR
Sandman
Timothy
T
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000191:economics; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000191:economics*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D008297:Male; D017149:Private Sector; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States