Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39212096›Full record

ArticleActa paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)2025

An economic evaluation on sub-optimal breastfeeding in Hong Kong: Infant health outcomes and costs.

Lai Ling Hui, Emily Liao, Karene Hoi Ting Yeung, Carlos K H Wong, Tharani Loganathan, Edmund Anthony S Nelson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lai Ling HuiDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Emily LiaoDepartment of Food Science and Nutrition, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China.
Karene Hoi Ting YeungDepartment of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Carlos K H WongDepartment of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.ORCID 0000-0002-6895-6071
Tharani LoganathanCentre for Epidemiology and Evidence-based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Edmund Anthony S NelsonDepartment of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

Funding

Health and Medical Research Fund 07181226
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThis study estimated the healthcare cost savings for the government due to the prevention of gastroenteritis (GE) infections and lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in the first year of life, attributed to an increase in the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 4 months in Hong Kong.

methodsThe model used the best available data inputs, with uncertainty considered using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. We additionally assessed the impact of neonatal jaundice (NNJ) on the economic benefits of increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates.

resultsDuring 2010-2019, five admissions for GE and three admissions for LRTI per 1000 births would have been prevented in the first year of life if the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 4 months increased from the actual levels (~15-30%) to 50%, resulting in annual healthcare cost savings of USD1.05 (95% CI 1.03-1.07) million/year. The cost saving would reach USD1.89 (95% CI 1.86-1.92) million/year if the exclusive breastfeeding rate at 4 months increase to 70%. However, if higher NNJ admissions during 7-90 days related to more exclusive breastfeeding are considered, the cost saving would reduce by 60%.

conclusionOur findings can guide policymakers in allocating budget and resources for breastfeeding promotion in Hong Kong. The prevention of unnecessary NNJ admissions would maximise the economic benefits of exclusive breastfeeding at 4 months.

Indexed as

Breast FeedingCost-Benefit AnalysisFemaleGastroenteritisHealth Care CostsHong KongHumansInfantInfant HealthInfant, NewbornRespiratory Tract Infectionsbreastfeedingcost savingeconomic evaluationshospital admissionneonatal jaundice

Identifiers

PMID39212096
PMCPMC11627454

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.