Birth Defects Cost U.S. Billions

"It's interesting that someone took a broad look at the costs," said Dr. Dan Polk, a neonatologist with Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago. But, he said, one problem with this information is that there's not much you can do to change these figures unless more money is invested in research to discover what causes these defects in the first place.

Until doctors understand the origins of specific birth defects, it's difficult to suggest prevention strategies, other than get early prenatal care and follow your doctor's advice for a healthy pregnancy.

"OK, so we know these defects cost money, but how do you prevent the spending of that money? Nothing's known on how to prevent these birth defects. They're there, and it is what it is. It's not a lifestyle issue or a mother's issue," said Polk. "Research defining the underlying causes might allow us to prevent, rather than try to treat, these birth defects."

Green agreed that more research is critical and pointed out that research has already led to the elimination of some birth defects.

"In the 1960s, a lot of pregnant women got rubella. If that's acquired for the first time by a pregnant mom in the last trimester, it can cause congenital rubella syndrome. Thanks to standard routine vaccinations, we don't see that anymore," said Green.

Both Green and Polk recommended that all women of childbearing age make sure they get 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, because a deficiency in folic acid can lead to neural tube defects such as spina bifida in babies.

Green also suggested that if you can possibly plan your childbearing to occur before age 35, you can lower your risk of having a child with a birth defect.

"As a woman ages, there's a greater chance of having a pregnancy affected by chromosomal abnormalities," she said.

Green also pointed out that the costs of birth defects hardly end with initial hospitalizations. The AHRQ recently released a report on the cost of birth defects and found that the average age of people being treated for birth defects was 17 years old, she said.

"While many of these birth defects are treated in infancy, the impact of birth defects can be long-lasting and may extend into adulthood," Green noted.

More information

Find out more about having a healthy pregnancy at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SOURCES: Dan Polk, M.D., neonatologist, Children's Memorial Hospital, and professor, pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago; Nancy Green, M.D., medical director, March of Dimes, White Plains, N.Y.; Jan. 19, 2007,Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report