A comparison of tertiary level NICU costs for infants born

Abstract

Human milk-based fortifiers (HMBF) are more costly than bovine milk-based fortifiers (BMBF); but, the efficacy of human or bovine fortification for infants born <1250 g has yet to be fully elucidated. Our objective was to determine the effect of fortifier source on tertiary neonatal costs. Costs associated with tertiary neonatal care, including direct and indirect hospital expenditures, feed-related costs and physician billing were analysed retrospectively for participants of OptiMoM (NCT02137473), a blinded RCT comparing fortifier type for babies born <1250 g. A generalized linear model of cost according to fortifier type was created. Mean [95% confidence interval] daily costs per patient, adjusted for birth gestation and weight, was significantly greater in the human than the BMBF group ($3,452 [$3,186 - $3,740] Canadian dollars (CAD) versus $2,451 [$2,257 - $2,662] CAD) respectively, p < 0.0001). HMBF usage entails additional costs on NICU stay that should be considered with implementation.