Economic evaluations of human milk for very preterm infants: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Very preterm infants are highly vulnerable to complications, imposing a significant economic burden on healthcare systems. Human milk has protective effects on these infants, but there is no systematic review on its economic impact.

Objective

We conducted a comprehensive review of studies assessing the economic evaluations of human milk for very preterm infants.

Methods

Our literature search covered PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently extracted data on economic evaluations and assessed study quality using the Pediatric Quality Appraisal Questionnaire (PQAQ).

Results

Fourteen studies of moderate quality, conducted in the United States, Germany, and Canada, met the inclusion criteria. However, the studi

SUBMITTER: Lu A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11965692 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature