The economic burden of childhood invasive pneumococcal diseases and pneumonia in Taiwan: Implications for a pneumococcal vaccination program

Abstract

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and pneumonia are the major causes of morbidity and deaths in children in the world. The management of IPD and pneumonia is an important economic burden on healthcare systems and families. The aim of this study was to assess the economic burden of IPD and pneumonia among younger children in Taiwan. We used a cost-illness approach to identify the cost categories for analysis in this study according to various perspectives. We obtained data of admission, outpatient, and emergency department visit data from the National Health Insurance Research (NHIR) database for children <5 y of age between January 2008 and December 2008. A prospective survey was administered to the families of patients to obtain detailed personal costs. All costs are presented in US dollars and were estimated by extrapolating 2008 cost data to 2013 price levels. We estimated the number of pneumococcal disease cases that were averted if the PCV-13 vaccine had been available in 2008. The total annual social and hospital costs for IPD were US $4.3 million and US $926,000, respectively. The total annual social and hospital costs for pneumonia were US $150 million and US $17 million, respectively. On average, families spent US $653 or US $218 when their child was diagnosed with IPD or pneumonia, respectively. This cost is approximately 27%–81% of the monthly salary of an unskilled worker. In conclusion, a safe and effective pediatric pneumococcal vaccine is needed to reduce the economic burden caused by pneumococcal infection.

Pneumococcal Vaccination for Children in Asian Countries: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluation Studies

“…Complexity in early diagnosis and the growing incidence of SP penicillin-resistant strains has complicated management of PD, contributing to a substantial clinical and economic burden on the health care system and in society [8][9][10]. Vaccination remains the cornerstone in reducing PD rates.…”

Cocontribution of Rotavirus and Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines to the Reduction of Pediatric Hospital Visits in Young Children

“…1 These infectious diseases result in numerous hospitalizations, outpatient visits, and antibiotic prescriptions and lead to productivity loss for parents and caregivers. [2][3][4] In developed countries, the burden on medical health services resulting from both pneumonia and diarrhea in young children peaks in late fall and winter months. [5][6][7] Both pneumonia and diarrhea can be caused by multiple pathogens, but Streptococcus pneumoniae and rotavirus, respectively, are the leading pathogens, 1,4,6,8 and are, in large part, vaccine preventable.…”

Free Tissue Transfers for Head and Neck Reconstruction in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease on Dialysis: Analysis of Outcomes Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database

“…We used datasets extracted from the Registry for Catastrophic Illness Patient Database (RCIPD) of the Taiwan National Health Insurance (NHI) program, having more than 99% of the 23.74 million persons of Taiwan enrolled. 13 The details of the NHI program and RCIPD have been thoroughly addressed in previous studies. 14,15 Information for patients with ESRD and head and neck cancer (HNC) were obtained from the RCIPD.…”