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Details

Research article
Authors

Geier DA, Kern JK, Geier MR

Journal

Metabolic Brain Disease

Summary
The authors evaluated the potential relationship between increasing blood Pb levels and the risk of a reported ADD diagnosis in 10–19 year olds living in the United States, and then calculated associated lifetime costs associated with ADD diagnosis. A significant dose-response relationship was found between increasing blood Pb levels and the risk of a reported ADD outcome (odds ratio (OR) = 1.237, p = 0.0227). The authors calculated, based on NHANES data, that an estimated 380,000 people born in the United States from 1984 to 1993 were reported to have an ADD outcome as a consequence of elevated blood Pb levels. The authors calculated total excess lifetime costs of these people with ADD would be about US $100 billion.
Population

Children (10–19 years) who had received a diagnosis of ADD

Health Outcomes

  • Single

Health Outcome List:

  • Neurological/cognitive outcomes (attention deficit disorder (ADD))

Environmental Agents

List of Environmental Agents:

  • Metals (lead)

Source of Environmental Agents:

  • Not available

Economic Evaluation / Methods and Source

Type:

  • Cost analysis (CA)

Cost Measures:

  • Direct excess lifetime costs associated with an ADD diagnosis

Potential Cost Measures:

  • Not available

Benefits Measures:

  • Not available

Potential Benefits Measures:

  • Not available

Location:

  • United States

Models Used:

  • Not available

Models References:

  • Not available

Methods Used:

  • The authors evaluated the potential relationship between increasing blood lead (Pb) levels and the risk of a reported ADD diagnosis, and then estimated the cost of ADD among adolescents in the United States. The authors — 1) identified a sample of 2,109 people between 10 and 19 years-old from the 2003–2004 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES); 2) analyzed social, demographic, and blood Pb levels using survey logistic and frequency modeling to identify statistically significant relationships; 3) calculated the number of people born in the United States between 1984 and 1993 who were reported to have an ADD outcome based on the NHANES analysis; and 4) calculated lifetime costs of these persons by using a published estimate of US $270,000 per case.

Sources Used:

  • 2003–2004 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES); lifetime costs of these persons by using a published estimate of US $270,000 per case (Birnbaum et al., 2005); direct excess lifetime costs associated with an ADD diagnosis (Birnbaum et al., 2005); additional sources cited in publication

Economic Citation / Fundings

Citation:

  • Geier DA, Kern JK, Geier MR. A cross-sectional study of the relationship between blood lead levels and reported attention deficit disorder: an assessment of the economic impact on the United States. Metabolic Brain Disease. 2018. 33; 1.
  • Pubmed
  • DOI

NIEHS Funding:

  • Not available

Other Funding:

  • Funded by two non-profit organizations