Societal costs of fetal alcohol syndrome in Sweden.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the annual societal cost of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) in Sweden, focusing on the secondary disabilities thought feasible to limit via early interventions.


METHODS
Prevalence-based cost-of-illness analysis of FAS in Sweden for 2014. Direct costs (societal support, special education, psychiatric disorders and alcohol/drug abuse) and indirect costs (reduced working capacity and informal caring), were included. The calculations were based on published Swedish studies, including a register-based follow-up study of adults with FAS, reports and databases, and experts.


RESULTS
The annual total societal cost of FAS was estimated at €76,000 per child (0-17 years) and €110,000 per adult (18-74 years), corresponding to €1.6 billion per year in the Swedish population using a prevalence of FAS of 0.2 %. The annual additional cost of FAS (difference between the FAS group and a comparison group) was estimated at €1.4 billion using a prevalence of 0.2 %. The major cost driver was the cost of societal support.


CONCLUSIONS
The cost burden of FAS on the society is extensive, but likely to be underestimated. A reduction in the societal costs of FAS, both preventive and targeted interventions to children with FAS, should be prioritized. That is, the cost of early interventions such as placement in family homes or other forms of housing, and special education, represent unavoidable costs. However, these types of interventions are highly relevant to improve the individual's quality of life and future prospects, and also, within a long-term perspective, to limit the societal costs and personal suffering.
Department of Medicine and Optometry, eHealth Institute, Linnaeus University, 391 82, Kalmar, Sweden. lisa.ericson@lnu.se.
Lisa
L
Ericson
Department of Health and Caring Sciences, The Swedish Family Care Competence Centre, Linnaeus University, Kalmar, Sweden.
Lennart
L
Magnusson
Department of Medicine and Optometry, eHealth Institute, Linnaeus University, 391 82, Kalmar, Sweden.
Bo
B
Hovstadius
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D063647:Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008875:Middle Aged; D017059:Models, Econometric; D015995:Prevalence; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
Cost of illness; Direct costs; FAS; Indirect costs