Swedish study shows high societal costs for premature babies

Children born before 24 weeks of gestation are associated with higher societal costs throughout childhood. Costs are highest during the first year of life, but the need for support continues for many years. This has been shown in a study by researchers at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Being born before 24 weeks usually means the baby needs help breathing, maintaining body temperature, and getting nutrition. Care is provided in neonatal units and may continue for weeks or months. It concerns only a small number of children each year – only a fraction of the approximately 115,000 children born annually in Sweden.

The study shows how costs change over time and could help improve how social support is designed, while also highlighting that the need for support persists long after the initial period of care. It is based on register data from 344 babies in Sweden who were born before 24 weeks of gestation between 2007 and 2018 and were followed for an average of about eight years.

Hannah Gyllensten, senior lecturer at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, is one of the study’s authors:

“We see that costs are highest during the first year of life, at an average of CHF 1.7 million per child. At the same time, there are big differences between children too. People who experience serious complications early in life often require long-term and comprehensive support,” says Hannah Gyllenstein.

Costs vary over time

Children have different needs. Children with severe early complications often require greater long-term support. More than 80 percent of health care costs arise during a child’s first year.

Chatarina Lofqvist is Professor of Caring Science at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and first author of the article:

“After a few years, we see a clear change: healthcare is no longer the largest share of costs; Instead, social support for the family becomes the biggest component. These are long-term support measures that follow the child through childhood and reflect needs that persist long after acute care has ended.” says Chatrina Löfqvist.

An important next step is to develop follow-up programs where the needs of the child and family are central, and where support efforts can be coordinated over time.

The study does not include all costs, such as special education or informal care.