March of Dimes
National Perinatal Statistics
  Economic Costs of Birth Defects

Condition Rate1 Total Cost2 Cost per new case3
Nervous System
Cerebral palsy 12.3 $2,426 $503
Spina Bifida 4.2 $489 $294
Cardiovascular
Truncus arteriosus 1.1 $210 $505
Single ventricle 1.3 $173 $344
Transposition/double outlet right ventricle 4.9 $515 $267
Tetralogy of Fallot 3.5 $360 $262
Alimentary Tract
Tracheo-esophageal fistula 2.9 $165 $145
Colorectal atresia 4.5 $219 $123
Cleft lip or palate 17.7 $697 $101
Atresia/stenosis of small intestine 3.8 $110 $75
Genitourinary
Renal agenesis 4.3 $42 $250
Urinary obstruction 10.4 $343 $84
Musculoskeletal
Lower-limb reduction 2.2 $167 $199
Upper-limb reduction 4.4 $170 $99
Abdominal Wall
Omphalocele 1.9 $132 $176
Gastroschisis 2.6 $109 $108
Chromosomal Abnormality
Down Syndrome 10.5 $1,848 $451
Other
Diaphragmatic hernia 3.7 $364 $250
Total 83.3 $8,031 $244

1 Per per 10,000 live births.
2 $1,000,000
3 $1,000
Note: Estimates were adjusted to reflect national lifetime costs in 1992 dollars and to avoid duplication when a child had more than 1 condition.
Source: CDC. Economic costs of birth defects and cerebral plasy--United States, 1992. MMWR. 1995:44;694-699. 		 
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