Table 1.
Parameter Estimates and Sources
| Parameter | Point estimate | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| Prevalence of spina bifida in 1995-1996 in systems with prenatal ascertainment | 6.5 per 10,000 births | 13 |
| Prevalence of spina bifida in 1999-2011 in systems with prenatal ascertainment | 4.0 per 10,000 births | 13 |
| Percentage of live births among spina bifida cases in systems with prenatal ascertainment during 2004-2006 | 77.0% | 14 |
| Annual births in 2012 | 3,952,841 | 15 |
| Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals share of average RBC folate concentration among non-pregnant U.S. women aged 12-49 years during 2007-2012 | 4.4% | 16 |
| Increase in mean RBC folate concentration among U.S. women aged 15-44 years between 1988-1994 and 1999-2006 | 54.5% | 18 |
| Base-case fortification cost | $4 million | Expert opinion |
| Worst-case fortification cost | $20 million | Expert opinion |
| Cost components for live-born infants with spina bifida (present value, 2014 U.S. dollars, rounded to nearest 100) | ||
| Medical | $513,500a | 25,27 |
| Special education and developmental services | $63,500b | 24 |
| Parental time cost | $214,900c | 28 |
| Total | $791,900 | – |
| Excluding caregiver time cost | $577,000 | – |
a
Adjusted for inflation using the Bureau of Economic Analysis Personal Consumption Expenditures health care deflator, available at www.bea.gov/, Table 2.3.4, Price Indexes for Personal Consumption Expenditures by Major Function (series DHLTRG).
b
Adjusted for inflation using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index for state and local government employees employed in educational services, available from www.bls.gov/web/eci/echistrynaics.pdf, Table 7.
c
Adjusted for inflation using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Cost Index for all civilian workers, available from www.bls.gov/web/eci/echistrynaics.pdf, Table 4.
RBC, Red blood cell.