Cost analysis of financial, productivity, and informal care burdens in families raising children with congenital anomalies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Congenital anomalies represent a major cause of childhood morbidity and disability, imposing long-term health, social, and financial challenges. While medical expenditures are relatively well-documented, evidence on the broader financial and social impact on families-particularly in Central and Eastern Europe-remains limited. Accordingly, this study aimed to quantify the economic burden associated with congenital anomalies from a caregiver perspective.

Methods

A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted in Lithuania in 2023 among 160 caregivers of children aged 5-18 years diagnosed with congenital anomalies. Participants were grouped by the number of affected organ systems to reflect the increasing disease complexity. Using standardized cost-of-illn

SUBMITTER: Vaiteniene EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12910806 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature