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Thai TTH, Le HND, Mihalopoulos C, Austin SB, Le LKD. Economic costs associated with unhealthy weight control behaviors among Australian adolescents. Int J Eat Disord 2024; 57:341-352. [PMID: 38054343 DOI: 10.1002/eat.24107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study explored the relationship between unhealthy weight control behaviors (UWCBs) and their associated economic costs among adolescents using the 2014-2018 Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). METHODS LSAC data in Wave 6 (n = 3538 adolescents aged 14-15 years), Wave 7 n = 3089 adolescents aged 16-17 years), and Wave 8 (n = 3037 adolescents aged 18-19 years) were derived from a representative sample of Australian adolescents. UWCBs were measured using the self-reported Branched Eating Disorder Test questionnaire. UWCBs were sub-classified into having fasting behaviors, using weight loss supplements or purging behaviors. Economic costs include healthcare and productivity costs to caregivers. Healthcare costs were measured using data from the Medicare and Pharmaceutical Benefits, which includes both medical and pharmaceutical costs. Productivity losses were measured using caregivers' lost leisure time due to UWCBs among adolescents. RESULTS The mixed effect model identified statistically significant higher economic costs (mean difference = $453, 95% CIs $154, $752), higher health care costs (mean difference = $399, 95% CIs $102, $695), and higher productivity costs (mean difference = $59, 95% CIs $29, $90) for adolescents with UWCBs compared to their peers with no UWCBs. Subgroup analysis revealed that higher costs were associated with fasting and purging behaviors. DISCUSSION UWCBs were associated with increased economic costs during adolescence. Our finding suggests there should be a policy focus on tackling UWCBs to reduce the economic burden on the healthcare system and society. PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE The study contributes to existing knowledge by investigating the direct healthcare costs and productivity losses associated with unhealthy weight control behaviors in Australian adolescents (14-18 years old) using a dataset that follows Australian adolescents over time. We found that engaging in unhealthy weight control behaviors such as fasting, using weight loss supplements, and purging was linked to higher costs among adolescents, suggesting policies should focus on addressing these behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thao T H Thai
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ha N D Le
- Institute of Health Transformation, Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Cathrine Mihalopoulos
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - S Bryn Austin
- Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Long Khanh-Dao Le
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Ma G, Meyer CL, Jackson-Morris A, Chang S, Narayan A, Zhang M, Wu D, Wang Y, Yang Z, Wang H, Zhao L, Nugent R. The return on investment for the prevention and treatment of childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity in China: a modelling study. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. WESTERN PACIFIC 2024; 43:100977. [PMID: 38456086 PMCID: PMC10920044 DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Background The rapid increase in child and adolescent overweight and obesity (OAO) in China has a significant health and economic impact. This study undertook an investment case analysis to evaluate the health and economic impacts of child and adolescent OAO in China and the potential health and economic returns from implementing specific policies and interventions. Methods The analysis estimates the reduction in mortality and morbidity from implementing a set of evidence-based interventions across China between 2025 and 2092 using a deterministic Markov cohort model. Modelled interventions were identified by literature review and expert recommendation and include fiscal and regulatory policies, eHealth breastfeeding promotion, school-based interventions, and nutritional counselling by physicians. The study applies a societal costing perspective to model the economic impact on healthcare cost savings, wages, and productivity during adulthood. By projecting and comparing the costs between a status quo scenario and an intervention scenario, the study estimates the return on investment (ROI) for interventions separately and in combination. Findings Without intervention China will experience 3.3 billion disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due its current levels of child and adolescent OAO and a lifetime economic impact of CNY 218 trillion (USD 31.6 trillion), or a lifetime CNY 2.5 million loss per affected child or adolescent (USD 350 thousand). National implementation of all five interventions would avert 179.4 million DALYs and result in CNY 13.1 trillion of benefits over the model cohort's lifetime. Implementing fiscal and regulatory policies had the strongest ROI, with benefits accruing at least 10 years after implementation. Scaling up China's current school-based interventions offers China significant health and economic gains, however, the ROI is lower than other modelled interventions. Interpretation Effective prevention and treatment of child and adolescent OAO is critical to China's health and economic development. Multiple interventions offer a comprehensive approach to address the various factors that increase risk of child and adolescent OAO. Nonetheless, fiscal and regulatory policies offer the strongest health and economic gains. Funding Funding was provided by UNICEF China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guansheng Ma
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Christina L. Meyer
- Center for Global Noncommunicable Diseases, RTI International, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Man Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Daphne Wu
- Center for Global Noncommunicable Diseases, RTI International, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Youfa Wang
- International Obesity and Metabolic Disease Research Center, Global Health Institute, School of Public Health, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shannxi, China
| | - Zhenyu Yang
- National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Huijun Wang
- National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Health Policy and Management, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rachel Nugent
- Center for Global Noncommunicable Diseases, RTI International, Durham, NC, USA
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Guertin JR, Gilbert-Ouimet M, Dugas M, Carnovale V, Jalbert L, Svyntozelska O, Demers J, Matteau L, Bergeron F, LeBlanc A. Methods used to account for caregivers' sex and gender within studies examining the financial burden of caregivers of children and adolescents : Results from a scoping review. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2024; 16:35-53. [PMID: 38298908 PMCID: PMC10829241 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s443077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Interest in the financial burden of informal caregivers has been growing. Unfortunately, it remains unclear which method(s) should be used when quantifying this burden. Purpose We conducted a scoping review aimed at identifying which methods have been used to conduct such work and quantified their performance. We were also interested in examining how sex and gender considerations were considered within selected studies. Data Sources Using a standardized approach, we identified studies published between 2012 and 2022 that aimed to document the financial burden of caregivers to child and adolescent patients. Our search strategy was applied to the MEDLINE, Embase, CINHAL, and Academic Search Premier databases. Study Selection Manuscript selection was performed by pairs of reviewers. Data Extraction Data extraction was performed by one reviewer with a second reviewer performing quality control. Results were reported using a narrative approach. Data Synthesis We identified 9801 unique citations, of which 200 were included in our review. Selected studies covered various disease area (eg, infection/parasitic diseases [n = 31, 16%]) and included quantitative (n = 180, 90%), qualitative (n = 4, 2%) and mixed study designs (n = 16, 8%). Most studies (n = 182, 91%) used questionnaires/surveys, either alone or in combination with other methods, to assess caregivers' financial burden. Less than half (n = 93, 47%) of studies reported on caregivers' sex and none reported on their gender. Conclusion We conducted an unrestricted review of published studies examining caregiver's financial burden which allowed us to identify general methodological trends observed in this literature. We believe this work may help improve future studies focusing on this important issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Robert Guertin
- Centre de recherche du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l’Université Laval/LOEX, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet
- Centre de recherche du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec À Rimouski, Levis, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michèle Dugas
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Valérie Carnovale
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Laura Jalbert
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Olha Svyntozelska
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Juliette Demers
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Léonie Matteau
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec À Rimouski, Levis, Quebec, Canada
| | - Frédéric Bergeron
- Bibliothèque-Direction des services-conseils, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Annie LeBlanc
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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Carrello J, Hayes A, Baur LA, Lung T. Potential cost-effectiveness of e-health interventions for treating overweight and obesity in Australian adolescents. Pediatr Obes 2023; 18:e13003. [PMID: 36649693 PMCID: PMC10909552 DOI: 10.1111/ijpo.13003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND E-health, defined as the use of information and communication technologies to improve healthcare delivery and health outcomes, has been promoted as a cost-effective strategy to treat adolescent overweight and obesity. However, evidence supporting this claim is lacking. OBJECTIVES Assess the potential cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical e-health intervention for adolescents with overweight and obesity. METHODS The costs and effect size (BMI reduction) of the hypothetical intervention were sourced from recent systematic reviews. Using a micro-simulation model with a lifetime time horizon, we conducted a modelled cost-utility analysis of the intervention compared to a 'do-nothing' approach. To explore uncertainty, we conducted bootstrapping on individual-level costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and performed multiple one-way sensitivity analyses. RESULTS The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for the e-health intervention was dominant (cheaper and more effective), with a 96% probability of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) of $50 000/QALY. The ICER remained dominant in all sensitivity analyses except when using the lower bounds of the hypothetical intervention effect size, which reduced the probability of cost-effectiveness at a WTP of $50 000/QALY to 51%. CONCLUSION E-health interventions for treatment of adolescent overweight and obesity demonstrate very good cost-effectiveness potential and should be considered by healthcare decision makers. However, further research on the efficacy of such interventions is warranted to strengthen the case for investment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Carrello
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneyCamperdownAustralia
| | - Alison Hayes
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneyCamperdownAustralia
| | - Louise A. Baur
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneyCamperdownAustralia
- Weight Management Services, The Children's Hospital at WestmeadWestmeadAustralia
| | - Thomas Lung
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of SydneyCamperdownAustralia
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Mahdi S, Marr C, Buckland NJ, Chilcott J. Methods for the economic evaluation of obesity prevention dietary interventions in children: A systematic review and critical appraisal of the evidence. Obes Rev 2022; 23:e13457. [PMID: 35478373 PMCID: PMC9542346 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aim to describe and provide a discussion of methods used to conduct economic evaluations of dietary interventions in children and adolescents, including long-term modelling, and to make recommendations to assist health economists in the design and reporting of such evaluations. METHODS A systematic review was conducted in 11 bibliographic databases and the grey literature with searches undertaken between January 2000 and December 2021. A study was included if it (1) was an economic evaluation or modelling study of an obesity-prevention dietary intervention and (2) targeted 2- to 18-year-olds. RESULTS Twenty-six studies met the inclusion criteria. Twelve studies conducted an economic evaluation alongside a clinical trial, and 14 studies modelled long-term health and cost outcomes. Four overarching methodological challenges were identified: modelling long-term impact of interventions, measuring and valuing health outcomes, cost inclusions and equity considerations. CONCLUSIONS Variability in methods used to predict, measure and value long-term benefits in adulthood from short-term clinical outcomes in childhood was evident across studies. Key recommendations to improve the design and analysis of future economic evaluations include the consideration of weight regain and diminishing intervention effects within future projections; exploration of wider intervention benefits not restricted to quality-of-life outcomes; and inclusion of parental or caregiver opportunity costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundus Mahdi
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, Sheffield, UK
| | - Colette Marr
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, Sheffield, UK
| | - Nicola J Buckland
- Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Cathedral Court, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jim Chilcott
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, Sheffield, UK
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