Associated health care cost in parents of children with Myelomeningocele in Sweden: A repeated cross-sectional analysis of region Skåne’s health care utilisation data base.

Abstract: Background: Studies have put spinal bifida which Myelomeningocoel (MMC) is a form at 6.1 per 10,000 births in Sweden. Other evaluations have pointed that disabilities could pose a burden on families despite the social net available within the Swedish society. It has been reported that depression, musculoskeletal disorders, and frequent health care visits are often likely to be reported in parents of children with developmental disability which might constitute a major public health problem. Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the health care cost in parents of children with MMC compared to parents of typically developing children across the region Skåne, Sweden. Methods: A repeated cross-sectional study design was adopted in the course of this work. The data were collected yearly from all persons with MMC born between the year 2001 and 2015 and their parents. Health care data from region Skåne was used. Health care cost was analysed adopting independent t test to compare the mean cost and its significant levels while adopting a linear regression model to evaluate pattern of cost by controlling for confounders in region Skåne. Parents of children with Myelomeningocoel health care cost was evaluated using descriptive statistics. Results: Parents of children with MMC have significantly higher healthcare cost at one year before birth (SEK 6,054), at birth (SEK 7,644), and two years after birth (SEK 6,356) in region Skåne with female parents utilising public health care about seven times higher than their male counterparts. Conclusion: Findings from the study showed significant higher health care cost in parents of children with Myelomeningocoel. Female parents were the only ones who utilise care for depression and musculoskeletal disorder. The study has an important implication in public health in looking at other factors that can cause disparity of care cost in gender within this study population.