Abstract
Objective: We sought to determine the impact of changes in breastfeeding rates on population health. Materials and Methods: We used a Monte Carlo simulation model to estimate the population-level changes in disease burden associated with marginal changes in rates of any breastfeeding at each month from birth to 12 months of life, and in rates of exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months of life. We used these marginal estimates to construct an interactive online calculator (available at www.usbreastfeeding.org/saving-calc). The Institutional Review Board of the Cambridge Health Alliance exempted the study. Results: Using our interactive online calculator, we found that a 5% point increase in breastfeeding rates was associated with statistically significant differences in child infectious morbidity for the U.S. population, including otitis media (101,952 cases, 95% confidence interval [CI] 77,929-131,894 cases) and gastrointestinal infection (236,073 cases, 95% CI 190,643-290,278 cases). Associated medical cost differences were $31,784,763 (95% CI $24,295,235-$41,119,548) for otitis media and $12,588,848 ($10,166,203-$15,479,352) for gastrointestinal infection. The state-level impact of attaining Healthy People 2020 goals varied by population size and current breastfeeding rates. Conclusion: Modest increases in breastfeeding rates substantially impact healthcare costs in the first year of life.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 645-658 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Breastfeeding Medicine |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 1 2017 |
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Keywords
- Breastfeeding
- breastfeeding impact
- breastfeeding policy
- cost savings
- economic tools
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics
- Health Policy
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternity and Midwifery
Cite this
An Online Calculator to Estimate the Impact of Changes in Breastfeeding Rates on Population Health and Costs. / Stuebe, Alison M.; Jegier, Briana J.; Schwarz, Eleanor; Green, Brittany D.; Reinhold, Arnold G.; Colaizy, Tarah T.; Bogen, Debra L.; Schaefer, Andrew J.; Jegier, Jamus T.; Green, Noah S.; Bartick, Melissa C.
In: Breastfeeding Medicine, Vol. 12, No. 10, 01.12.2017, p. 645-658.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - An Online Calculator to Estimate the Impact of Changes in Breastfeeding Rates on Population Health and Costs
AU - Stuebe, Alison M.
AU - Jegier, Briana J.
AU - Schwarz, Eleanor
AU - Green, Brittany D.
AU - Reinhold, Arnold G.
AU - Colaizy, Tarah T.
AU - Bogen, Debra L.
AU - Schaefer, Andrew J.
AU - Jegier, Jamus T.
AU - Green, Noah S.
AU - Bartick, Melissa C.
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - Objective: We sought to determine the impact of changes in breastfeeding rates on population health. Materials and Methods: We used a Monte Carlo simulation model to estimate the population-level changes in disease burden associated with marginal changes in rates of any breastfeeding at each month from birth to 12 months of life, and in rates of exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months of life. We used these marginal estimates to construct an interactive online calculator (available at www.usbreastfeeding.org/saving-calc). The Institutional Review Board of the Cambridge Health Alliance exempted the study. Results: Using our interactive online calculator, we found that a 5% point increase in breastfeeding rates was associated with statistically significant differences in child infectious morbidity for the U.S. population, including otitis media (101,952 cases, 95% confidence interval [CI] 77,929-131,894 cases) and gastrointestinal infection (236,073 cases, 95% CI 190,643-290,278 cases). Associated medical cost differences were $31,784,763 (95% CI $24,295,235-$41,119,548) for otitis media and $12,588,848 ($10,166,203-$15,479,352) for gastrointestinal infection. The state-level impact of attaining Healthy People 2020 goals varied by population size and current breastfeeding rates. Conclusion: Modest increases in breastfeeding rates substantially impact healthcare costs in the first year of life.
AB - Objective: We sought to determine the impact of changes in breastfeeding rates on population health. Materials and Methods: We used a Monte Carlo simulation model to estimate the population-level changes in disease burden associated with marginal changes in rates of any breastfeeding at each month from birth to 12 months of life, and in rates of exclusive breastfeeding from birth to 6 months of life. We used these marginal estimates to construct an interactive online calculator (available at www.usbreastfeeding.org/saving-calc). The Institutional Review Board of the Cambridge Health Alliance exempted the study. Results: Using our interactive online calculator, we found that a 5% point increase in breastfeeding rates was associated with statistically significant differences in child infectious morbidity for the U.S. population, including otitis media (101,952 cases, 95% confidence interval [CI] 77,929-131,894 cases) and gastrointestinal infection (236,073 cases, 95% CI 190,643-290,278 cases). Associated medical cost differences were $31,784,763 (95% CI $24,295,235-$41,119,548) for otitis media and $12,588,848 ($10,166,203-$15,479,352) for gastrointestinal infection. The state-level impact of attaining Healthy People 2020 goals varied by population size and current breastfeeding rates. Conclusion: Modest increases in breastfeeding rates substantially impact healthcare costs in the first year of life.
KW - Breastfeeding
KW - breastfeeding impact
KW - breastfeeding policy
KW - cost savings
KW - economic tools
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042598454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85042598454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1089/bfm.2017.0083
DO - 10.1089/bfm.2017.0083
M3 - Article
C2 - 28906133
AN - SCOPUS:85042598454
VL - 12
SP - 645
EP - 658
JO - Breastfeeding Medicine
JF - Breastfeeding Medicine
SN - 1556-8253
IS - 10
ER -