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The annual cost of ADHD in the US is substantial. Both treated and untreated persons with ADHD, as well as their family members, impose consider able economic burdens on the healthcare system as a result of this condition. While these first estimates of the cost of ADHD to the nation are suggestive of its substantial economic burden, future research needs to refine and build on this analysis, particularly in the context of a model to control for related co-morbidities. Similarly, since these results are based on data from a single company for the period 1996-1998, the analysis should be validated with more representative, current data.

Summary The sizes of different neuronal populations within the central nervous system are precisely controlled, but whether neuronal number is coordinated between cell types is unknown. We examined the covariance structure of twelve different retinal cell types across thirty genetically distinct lines of mice, finding minimal co-variation when comparing synaptically-connected or developmentally-related cell types. Variation mapped to one or more genomic loci for each cell type, but rarely were these shared, indicating minimal genetic co-regulation of final number. Multiple genes, therefore, participate in the specification of the size of every population of retinal neuron, yet genetic variants work largely independent of one another during development to modulate those numbers, yielding substantial variability in the convergence ratios between pre- and post-synaptic populations. Density-dependent cellular interactions in the outer plexiform layer overcome this variability to ensure the formation of neuronal circuits that maintain constant retinal coverage and complete afferent sampling.

OBJECTIVE -The purpose of this study was to assess the economic burden of diabetes from an employer's perspective. We analyzed the costs of diabetes, using claims data for an employed population and the prevalence of selected comorbid conditions. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS -The data source is a claims database from a national Fortune 100 manufacturer. It includes medical, pharmacy, and disability claims for all beneficiaries (n Ͼ100,000). Both medical and work productivity costs of diabetes patients are compared by age with those of matched control subjects from the overall beneficiary population. Out-of-pocket and intangible costs are excluded.RESULTS -In 1998, the employer's mean annual per capita costs were higher for all diabetes beneficiaries than for control subjects ($7,778 Ϯ 16,176 vs. $3,367 Ϯ 8,783; P Ͻ 0.0001), yielding an incremental cost of $4,410 Ϯ 18,407 associated with diabetes. The medical and productivity costs for employees with diabetes were significantly (P Ͻ 0.0008) higher than for control subjects. The incremental cost of diabetes among employees ranged from $4,671 (aged 18 -35 years) to $4,369 (aged 56 -64 years).CONCLUSIONS -Diabetes imposes a significant economic burden on employers, particularly when including productivity costs. Employers should select health plans that provide enriched benefits to diabetes patients, including ready access to medical and pharmacy services as well as aggressive diabetes management programs. Diabetes Care 25:23-29, 2002

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