BMUS: The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States
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Neuromuscular Conditions

VII.B.4.0
Children & Adolescents

Lead Author(s): 

Scott B. Rosenfeld, MD

Supporting Author(s): 

Sylvia I. Watkins-Castillo, PhD
Common pediatric neuromuscular conditions include cerebral palsy, myelomeningocele (spina bifida), muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy, hereditary motor sensory neuropathies, Friedrich ataxia, and Rett syndrome. This is a heterogeneous group of disorders with varying degrees of severity and involvement. Although some children and adolescents with these diagnoses can lead a relatively normal life, and participate in normal activities, many are completely dependent on their care provider. Most patients lie somewhere between the two ends of this range and require varying amounts of care for their condition. The overall burden of these diagnoses is not limited to number of visits or admissions. These diagnoses also carry significant indirect costs including, but certainly not limited to, lost wages by the caregiver who is unable to go to work; out-of-pocket costs for necessities such as therapy, bracing, and wheelchairs; and the significant emotional impact on the family and care provider. 

Edition: 

  • 2014

Health Care Utilization

VII.B.4.1
Children & Adolescents Neuromuscular Conditions

Lead Author(s): 

Scott B. Rosenfeld, MD

Supporting Author(s): 

Sylvia I. Watkins-Castillo, PhD

Neuromuscular conditions were diagnosed in 612,100 children and adolescent health care visits in 2012, of which 255,300 had a primary diagnosis of a neuromuscular condition. About 1 in 10 (11%) children and adolescents with any neuromuscular diagnoses were hospitalized (67,200), but fewer than 2% (4,500) with a primary neuromuscular diagnosis had a hospital discharge. (Reference Table 7.1.1 PDF [1] CSV [2] and Table 7.1.2 PDF [3] CSV [4])

Males were more likely to be hospitalized than females for both any neuromuscular diagnoses or as a primary diagnosis. Children ages 6 to 10 years had the highest rate of hospitalization, both with any diagnoses and as a primary diagnosis. Rates of hospitalization declined as children age.

Neuromuscular conditions as a primary diagnosis accounted for about 1.5% of hospitalizations for any musculoskeletal condition diagnosis and only 0.1% of all hospitalizations for any health care condition. (Reference Table 7.5 PDF [5] CSV [6])

Hospital Discharges for Children and Adolescents Age 20 and Under with Neuromuscular Diagnosis, by Sex and Age, United States 2012

Cerebral palsy was diagnosed in two-thirds (66%) of hospital discharges. Spina bifida and muscular dystrophy represented 18% and 8% of discharges, respectively.

Health Care Visits for Children and Adolescents Age 20 and Under with Neuromuscular Diagnosis, by Type, United States 2012

Edition: 

  • 2014

Hospital Charges

VII.B.4.2
Children & Adolescents Neuromuscular Conditions

Lead Author(s): 

Scott B. Rosenfeld, MD

Supporting Author(s): 

Sylvia I. Watkins-Castillo, PhD

Total charges averaged $69,500 for a mean 6.7-day stay when children and adolescents were hospitalized with a diagnosis of a neuromuscular condition along with other medical conditions. With a primary neuromuscular diagnosis, the stay was longer (7.5 days), and mean charges were higher at $84,000. Mean charges and length of stay were highest for the youngest patients, those under 1 year of age. Total hospital charges for all primary neuromuscular discharges in 2012 were $378 million. (Reference Table 7.5 PDF [5] CSV [6])

Total Hospital Charges for Children and Adolescents Age 20 and Under with Neuromuscular Diagnosis, by Sex and Age, United States 2012

 

Edition: 

  • 2014
The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States - Copyright © 2014.

Source URL: https://bmus.latticegroup.com/2013-report/availability-health-care-providers/vii3b

Links:
[1] https://bmus.latticegroup.com/docs/T7.1.1.pdf
[2] https://bmus.latticegroup.com/docs/T7.1.1.csv
[3] https://bmus.latticegroup.com/docs/T7.1.2.pdf
[4] https://bmus.latticegroup.com/docs/T7.1.2.csv
[5] https://bmus.latticegroup.com/docs/T7.5.pdf
[6] https://bmus.latticegroup.com/docs/T7.5.csv