Healthcare costs and health service usage according to late-preterm and term status
| Late-preterm infants (33–36 weeks) | Term infants (≥37 weeks) | |
|---|---|---|
| Hospitalisation | ||
| Years 0–3† | ||
| Number (%) | 838 (38.5%)c,* | 9859 (29.1%) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 1727±9675b,* | 628±3185 |
| Years 0–2† | ||
| Number (%) | 720 (33.1%)c,* | 8061 (23.8%) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 1530±9382b,* | 527±2840 |
| Years 2–3† | ||
| Number (%) | 237 (10.9%)c,** | 3106 (9.2%) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 212±2220b,** | 102±1178 |
| Physician visits | ||
| Years 0–3† | ||
| Median number (IQR) | 25 (15–39)a,* | 22 (13–34) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 977±1497b,* | 766±1024 |
| Years 0–2† | ||
| Median number (IQR) | 19 (11–30)a,* | 16 (10–26) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 756±1330b,* | 575±708 |
| Years 2–3† | ||
| Median number (IQR) | 5 (2–10)a,** | 5 (2–9) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 221±4.95b,*** | 191±647 |
| Emergency department visits | ||
| Years 0–3† | ||
| Number (%) | 27 (1.2%)c,*** | 274 (0.8%) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 2±17b,*** | 1±17 |
| Years 0–2† | ||
| Number (%) | 17 (0.8%)c,**** | 169 (0.5%) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 1±14b,*** | 1±13 |
| Years 2–3† | ||
| Number (%) | 10 (0.5%)c,**** | 115 (0.3%) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 1±11b,**** | 1±10 |
| Prescriptions | ||
| Years 0–3† | ||
| Median number (IQR) | 9 (2–20)a,* | 7 (2–16) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 388±974b,* | 257±598 |
| Years 0–2† | ||
| Median number (IQR) | 6 (1–14)a,* | 5 (1–12) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 282±707b,* | 182±455 |
| Years 2–3† | ||
| Median number (IQR) | 1 (0–5)a,* | 1 (0–4) |
| Mean cost (±SD) | 106±377b,* | 75±216 |
Costs expressed in Canadian dollars rounded to the nearest dollar.
Statistical tests:
↵a Poisson regression χ2;
↵b Wilcoxon test;
↵c χ2 or Fisher exact test.
Significance levels:
↵* p<0.0001;
↵** p<0.01;
↵*** p<0.05;
↵**** p not significant (ns).
↵† Years 0–3, first 3 years of life; Years 0–2, first 2 years of life; Years 2–3, third year of life.