Jiabin Shen1, Junxin Shi2, Jennifer Cooper3, Cheng Chen2, H Gerry Taylor3, Henry Xiang4. 1. Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA. Electronic address: Jiabin_Shen@uml.edu. 2. Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH. 3. Center for Biobehavioral Health, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH; The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH. 4. Center for Injury Research and Prevention, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, 700 Children's Drive, Columbus, OH; The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of pediatric trauma morbidity and mortality around the world. However, limited research exists regarding disparities in the incidence of TBI and medical care seeking behaviors and medical expenditures for TBI, particularly using population-based and nationally-representative data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Panels 9-19 (2004-2015) to provide nationally-representative estimates for the civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. POPULATION: We examined differences in TBI incidence and associated medical care seeking behaviors and expenditures in relation to individual and family sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: From a total of 50,563 children in the MEPS Panels 9-19, we identified 449 children with TBI. For 82% of these children, medical treatment was sought. The estimated annual total expenditure associated with pediatric TBIs nationally was approximately $667 million, with mean expenditures per TBI being $1,532 and family out of pocket expenditures accounting for 8.3% of total expenditures. Race/ethnicity was the only significant factor associated with both medical care seeking behavior and total expenditures. CONCLUSIONS: The present study is among the first to compare pediatric TBI-related medical expenditures among different sociodemographic groups in the U.S. Our findings can inform future intervention research and policy-making from the perspectives of both epidemiological and behavioral sciences.
BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of pediatric trauma morbidity and mortality around the world. However, limited research exists regarding disparities in the incidence of TBI and medical care seeking behaviors and medical expenditures for TBI, particularly using population-based and nationally-representative data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The present study used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) Panels 9-19 (2004-2015) to provide nationally-representative estimates for the civilian, non-institutionalized U.S. POPULATION: We examined differences in TBI incidence and associated medical care seeking behaviors and expenditures in relation to individual and family sociodemographic characteristics. RESULTS: From a total of 50,563 children in the MEPS Panels 9-19, we identified 449 children with TBI. For 82% of these children, medical treatment was sought. The estimated annual total expenditure associated with pediatric TBIs nationally was approximately $667 million, with mean expenditures per TBI being $1,532 and family out of pocket expenditures accounting for 8.3% of total expenditures. Race/ethnicity was the only significant factor associated with both medical care seeking behavior and total expenditures. CONCLUSIONS: The present study is among the first to compare pediatric TBI-related medical expenditures among different sociodemographic groups in the U.S. Our findings can inform future intervention research and policy-making from the perspectives of both epidemiological and behavioral sciences.
Authors: Adil H Haider; Paul Logan Weygandt; Jessica M Bentley; Maria Francesca Monn; Karim Abdur Rehman; Benjamin L Zarzaur; Marie L Crandall; Edward E Cornwell; Lisa A Cooper Journal: J Trauma Acute Care Surg Date: 2013-05 Impact factor: 3.313