Congenital hypothyroidism control programs. A cost-benefit analysis. JAMA 1979 May 25;241(21):2290-2
Date
05/25/1979Pubmed ID
108409Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0018800921 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 29 CitationsAbstract
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.
Author List
Layde PM, Von Allmen SD, Oakley GP JrMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAdult
Aged
Child
Child, Preschool
Congenital Hypothyroidism
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Humans
Hypothyroidism
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Institutionalization
Intellectual Disability
Life Expectancy
Mass Screening
Middle Aged
United States
