Abstract
OBJECTIVES: We compared direct medical costs borne by the health care system and out-of-pocket costs borne by families for children with food allergy by socioeconomic characteristics. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional survey data collected between November 2011 and January 2012 from 1643 US caregivers with a food-allergic child. We used a 2-part regression model to estimate mean costs and identified differences by levels of household income and race or ethnicity. RESULTS: Children in the lowest income stratum incurred 2.5 times the amount of emergency department and hospitalization costs as a result of their food allergy than higher-income children (1021, SE ±209, vs 416, SE ±94; P < .05). Costs incurred for specialist visits were lower in the lowest income group (228, SE ±21) compared with the highest income group (311, SE ±18; P < .01) as was spending on out-of-pocket medication costs (117, SE ± 26, lowest income; 366, SE ±44, highest income; P < .001). African American caregivers incurred the lowest amount of direct medical costs and spent the least on out-of-pocket costs, with average adjusted costs of 493 (SE ±109) and 395 (SE ±452), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Disparities exist in the economic impact of food allergy based on socioeconomic status. Affordable access to specialty care, medications, and allergen-free foods are critical to keep all food-allergic children safe, regardless of income and race.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | e20153678 |
Journal | Pediatrics |
Volume | 137 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2016 |
Funding
FUNDING: All phases of this study were supported by Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE).
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health