Costs of maternal conditions attributable to smoking during pregnancy

Am J Prev Med. 1998 Oct;15(3):212-9. doi: 10.1016/s0749-3797(98)00049-x.

Abstract

Context: Despite known adverse health effects, many women continue to smoke during pregnancy. Public attention has now focused on the economic as well as health effects of this behavior.

Objective: To estimate health care costs associated with smoking-attributable cases of placenta previa, abruptio placenta, ectopic pregnancy, preterm premature rupture of the membrane (PPROM), pre-eclampsia, and spontaneous abortion.

Design: Pooled odds ratios were used with data on total cases to estimate smoking-attributable cases. Estimated average costs for cases of ectopic pregnancy and spontaneous abortion were used to estimate smoking-attributable health care costs for these conditions. Incremental costs, or costs above those for a "normal" delivery, were used to estimate smoking-attributable costs of placenta previa, abruptio placenta, PPROM, and pre-eclampsia associated with delivery.

Setting: National estimates for 1993.

Participants: Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey (NHDS) and claims data from a sample of large, self-insured employers across the country.

Results: Smoking-attributable costs ranged from $1.3 million for PPROM to $86 million for ectopic pregnancy. Smoking during pregnancy apparently protects against pre-eclampsia and saves between $36 and $49 million, depending on smoking prevalence. Over all conditions smoking-attributable costs ranged from $135 to $167 million.

Conclusions: Smoking during pregnancy is a preventable cause of higher health care costs for the conditions studied. While smoking during pregnancy was found to be protective against pre-eclampsia and, hence, saves costs, the net costs were still positive and significant. Effective smoking-cessation programs can reduce health care costs but clinicians will perhaps need to manage increased cases of pre-eclampsia in a cost-effective manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / economics
  • Cost of Illness
  • Female
  • Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture / economics
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Care Costs*
  • Humans
  • Odds Ratio
  • Placenta Previa / economics
  • Pre-Eclampsia / economics
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / economics*
  • Smoking / economics*
  • United States