Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-mzp66 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-24T03:45:28.805Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Health Economic Analysis of the Neonatal Screening Program in Japan

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2009

Akinori Hisashige
Akinori Hisashige
Affiliation:
Suzuka University of Medical Science and Technology
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In Japan, a nationwide mass screening system for neonatal metabolic diseases was established in 1977. This system consisted of screening programs for five main congenital metabolic diseases, including phenylketonuria (PKU). To evaluate the efficiency of the mass screening system, a costbenefit analysis of the screening program for PKU (as a typical case in Japan) was carried out. The costs of the detection and the treatment program were compared with the projected benefit (avoided costs) that results from prevention of the mental retardation associated with the disorders due to PKU. Costs and benefits were discounted at an annual rate of 7%. Assuming that the incidence of PKU was 1/80,500 and the total number of infants screened was 1.2 million, net benefits for the screening program were $283,000, and the cost-benefit ratio was 1:2.5. The sensitivity analysis for the incidence of PKU showed that the cost-benefit ratios exceeded one.

Type
Special Section: Assessing Nursing and Technology
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 10 , Issue 3 , Summer 1994 , pp. 382 - 391
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Alm, J., et al. Health economic analysis of the Swedish neonatal metabolic screening programme. Medical Decision Making, 1982, 2, 33–45.Google Scholar
2.American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Genetics. Newborn screening fact sheets. Pediatrics, 1989, 449–64.Google Scholar
3.Barden, H. S., & Kessel, R.The costs and benefits of screening for PKU in Wisconsin. Social Biology, 1984, 31, 1–17.Google Scholar
4.Bickel, H., et al. Neonatal mass screening for metabolic disease. European Journal of Pediatrics, 1981, 133–39.Google Scholar
5.Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination. The periodic health examination. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 1979, 121, 1193–254.Google Scholar
6.Dhondt, J. L.Economic evaluation of cost-benefit ratio of neonatal screening procedure for phenylketonuria and hypothyroidism. Journal of Inherited Metabolic Disease, 1991, 14, 633–39.Google Scholar
7.Drummond, M. F., Stoddart, G. L., & Torrance, G. W.Methods for the Economic evaluation of health care programmes. New York: Oxford University Press, 1987.Google Scholar
8.Hisashige, A.Health care delivery, financing system and aging in Japan. Journal of the Japan Association of Radiological Technologist (English issue), 1992, 39, 27–52.Google Scholar
9.Hisashige, A.Technology assessment of periodic health examinations for school children in Japan. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, 1992, 8, 219–33.Google Scholar
10.Holland, W. W., & Stewart, S.Screening in health care: Benefit or bane? London: The Nuffield Provincial Hospitals Trust, 1990.Google Scholar
11. Kosei Tokei Kyokai. Trends in the nation’s health. Kosei no Shihyo (special issue), 1992 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
12.Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Cost-benefit analysis of newborn screening for metabolic disorders. New England Journal of Medicine, 1974, 291, 1414–16.Google Scholar
13.Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW). Research on the mass screening, prevention of progress and long-term care for metabolic, endocrine and other diseases, 1990, 1991, 1992 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
14.Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW). Research on the mass screening system, 1993 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
15.Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW). Manual for medical services fees. Tokyo: Social Insurance Institute, 1990 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
16.Ministry of Labor. Wage census: Basic statistics of structure of wages, 1991.Google Scholar
17.Naruse, H., & Matsuda, I. (eds). Handbook for neonatal screening, Tokyo: Nankodo, 1989 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
18.Oura, T. (ed.). Congenital metabolic disorders. Tokyo: Ishiyaku, 1980 (in Japanese).Google Scholar
19.Steiner, K. C., & Smith, H. A.Application of cost-benefit analysis to a PKU screening program. Inquiry, 1973, 10, 34–40.Google ScholarPubMed
20.Tiwary, C. M. Neonatal screening for metabolic and endocrine diseases. Nurse Practitioner, 1987, 28–38.Google Scholar
21.U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Guide to clinical preventive services. New York: Williams & Wilkins, 1989.Google Scholar
22.Webb, J. F., et al. PKU screenings, is it worth it? Canadian Medical Association Journal 1973, 108, 328–29.Google Scholar