Cost effectiveness of gastrostomy placement for children with neuro-developmental disablity
Joy Lucy Townsend 1*, Gill Craig 2, Margaret Lawson 3, Sheena Reilly 4 and Lewis Spitz 5
1 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, United Kingdom
2 City University, United Kingdom
3 Sen Research Fellow in Paed Nutrition, United Kingdom
4 La Trobe University, Australia
5 institute of child health, United Kingdom
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: joy.townsend{at}lshtm.ac.uk.
Accepted 6 April 2008
 | Abstract |
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Malnutrition and growth deficiency are common in neurologically impaired children. Gastrostomy placement has been shown to result in significant catch up growth, improved health of the child and reduction in family stress; its cost effectiveness has not been investigated.
Costs related to gastrostomy placement are estimated here from a prospective controlled study of children referred to a tertiary paediatric centre in UK. Costs of inpatient stay, medication, tests, general practitioner consultations, community health care, equipment, and parents' indirect costs, were estimated at baseline and follow up. Costs of the different types of gastrostomy surgery are given.
Results for both time periods were available for 54 of the 76 children recruited to the study. Five day food diaries were kept at baseline and follow up. Costs of food increased slightly but not significantly post surgery from £33 to £40 [44 to 54
, 65 to 78 USD$] per week. Variation in cost between cases was considerable but the mean net cost difference of £20.80 (CI -£43.79 to £85.35) [28 (CI -59 to 115), 41 USD$ (CI -86 to 167USD$)] per week per child including for food and surgery, was also not significant. Community service costs were significantly lower post surgery.
Few parents reported personal costs at either time point, although many had reduced or stopped paid work to care for the child. As gastrostomy placement for these children resulted in significant clinical benefit at no significant extra cost, it is concluded that the procedure is cost effective.
