ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Galactosemia is a congenital metabolic disorder that can damage the health of a newborn. Screening is an important step to prevent and treat this condition. Due to increasing health care costs and limited financial resources of health systems, the most suitable economic analysis tool should be applied. The aim of this study was to analyze the cost-utility of neonatal screening program for diagnosing galactosemia in Fars province, Iran. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study and cost-utility analysis in the cost of screening for galactosemia and its financial effects, decision tree model and society's viewpoint were used. The population of study was 81837 infants referred to Neonatal Screening Laboratory (Nader Kazemi Clinic) affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences (SUMS), Iran, in 2010. Quality of life in two groups of patients was evaluated by using the time trade-off. The best intervention option was selected by using the Incremental Cost-effectiveness Ratio. RESULTS: The estimated cost of diagnosed through screening and without screening were 43519911 and 130011168 Iranian Rails (4222.00 $ and 12615.00 $), respectively. Therefore, there was a saving of 201443240.99 Iranian Rails (19641.00 $), for each patient annually. CONCLUSION: The screening program can improve both the qualitative and quantitative lifestyle of people and increase savings in health care system. Policymakers could use the results to design new policies based on the necessity of screening.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The most important cause of infant mortality during the first month of life is related to congenital abnormalities. Nevertheless, timely diagnosis of these diseases can reduce the severity of their effects. The present study aimed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of the neonatal screening program in Fars Province, Iran. METHODS: In this study, costs of executing the screening programs, treatment of the diagnosed cases, treatment of affected, non-screened individuals, quality of life, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were measured in two study groups. FINDINGS: Performing the screening programs for phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, galactosemia, and favism resulted in respectively $3386, $13078, $19641, and $1088 saving per patient. Overall, the study results revealed the cost-effectiveness of execution of the neonatal screening program. CONCLUSION: Neonatal screening program is one of the health interventions which lead to long-term beneficial outcome for the patients, financial saving for the society, and improvement of the patients' quantity as well as quality of life.
