Medication utilization in children born preterm in the first two years of life.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
To compare medications dispensed during the first 2 years in children born preterm and full-term.Study design
Retrospective analysis of claims data from a commercial national managed care plan 2008-2019. 329,855 beneficiaries were enrolled from birth through 2 years, of which 25,408 (7.7%) were preterm (<37 weeks). Filled prescription claims and paid amount over 2 years were identified.Results
In preterm children, the number of filled prescriptions was 1.4 times and cost was 3.8 times that of full-term children. Number and cost of medications were inversely related to gestational age. Differences peak at 4-9 months and resolve by 19 months after discharge. Palivizumab, ranitidine, albuterol, lansoprazole, budesonide, and prednisolone had the greatest differences in utilization.Conclusion
Prescription medication utilization among preterm children under 2 years is driven by palivizumab, anti-reflux, and respiratory medications, despite little evidence regarding efficacy for many medications and concern for harm with certain classes.
SUBMITTER: Levin JC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8277664 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Medication utilization in children born preterm in the first two years of life.
Levin Jonathan C JC Beam Andrew L AL Fox Kathe P KP Mandl Kenneth D KD
Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association 20210205 7
<h4>Objective</h4>To compare medications dispensed during the first 2 years in children born preterm and full-term.<h4>Study design</h4>Retrospective analysis of claims data from a commercial national managed care plan 2008-2019. 329,855 beneficiaries were enrolled from birth through 2 years, of which 25,408 (7.7%) were preterm (<37 weeks). Filled prescription claims and paid amount over 2 years were identified.<h4>Results</h4>In preterm children, the number of filled prescriptions was 1.4 times ...[more]
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