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Prevalence and Losses in Quality-Adjusted Life Years of Child Health Conditions: A Burden of Disease Analysis

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Abstract

Objectives To estimate the prevalence and losses in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with 20 child health conditions. Methods Using data from the 2009–2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs, preference weights were applied to 14 functional difficulties to summarize the quality of life burden of 20 health conditions. Results Among the 14 functional difficulties, “a little trouble with breathing” had the highest prevalence (37.1 %), but amounted to a loss of just 0.16 QALYs from the perspective of US adults. Though less prevalent, “a lot of behavioral problems” and “chronic pain” were associated with the greatest losses (1.86 and 3.43 QALYs). Among the 20 conditions, allergies and asthma were the most prevalent but were associated with the least burden. Muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy were among the least prevalent and most burdensome. Furthermore, a scatterplot shows the association between condition prevalence and burden. Conclusions In child health, condition prevalence is negatively associated with quality of life burden from the perspective of US adults. Both should be considered carefully when evaluating the appropriate role for public health prevention and interventions.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Catherine Blackburn and Carol Templeton for their contributions to references and editing of this paper, respectively.

Funding

Funding support for this research was provided by a Grant from the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, through the National Cancer Institute (1R01CA160104) and Dr. Craig’s support account at Moffitt Cancer Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Moffitt Cancer Center, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MRC-CACONT, Tampa, FL, 33612-9416, USA

    Benjamin M. Craig, John D. Hartman & Michelle A. Owens

  2. Department of Economics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, CMC206A, Tampa, FL, 33612-9416, USA

    Benjamin M. Craig & John D. Hartman

  3. Brown School and Institute for Public Health, Washington University in St. Louis, Campus Box 1196, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Derek S. Brown

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  1. Benjamin M. Craig
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Correspondence to Benjamin M. Craig.

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Craig, B.M., Hartman, J.D., Owens, M.A. et al. Prevalence and Losses in Quality-Adjusted Life Years of Child Health Conditions: A Burden of Disease Analysis. Matern Child Health J 20, 862–869 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-015-1874-z

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