Benton County will figure into national child-health study
Posted on Saturday, October 4, 2008
BENTON COUNTY — The largest study of pregnant women and child health ever conducted in the United States — and possibly the world — is about the launch. And of the 100, 000 children and pregnant women from across the country to be studied, 1, 000 will be from Benton County.
During a national teleconference Friday, The National Institutes of Health announced Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute will administer the Benton County study center and will enroll 1, 000 babies and their mothers. The National Children’s Study, which has been in the planning phase since 2000, will follow 100, 000 children from before birth to age 21 to identify genetic and environmental factors that contribute to health disorders and conditions of childhood and adulthood.
Benton County was among a list of several study centers across the country — ranging from metropolitan and suburban to rural — announced Friday. A total of 105 communities across the United States have been or will be identified as participants in the study, according to Dr. Peter Scheidt, Director of The National Children’s Study.
“ Every year, nearly 500, 000 American babies are born premature, which accounts for about 12 percent of U. S. births, ” Scheidt said. “ That rate has been rising in recent years. Many survive and do well, but many experience lifelong challenges and complications. ”
Scheidt and Dr. Duane Alexander, director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development explained that the study will examine environmental factors — chemical, physical, biological, social and behavioral. Such factors as air, water, dust, pesticides, and even the kinds of wood, metals and other materials used in housing and construction in the area of the subjects will be studied. And the 100, 000 subjects being tracked will come from a full range of ethnic and financial backgrounds.
“ Other studies have been done that look at just one exposure and at one particular period in life, ” Scheidt said. “ What this study gives us the ability to do is look at a wide variety of exposures occurring at different points in life. ”
The pilot phase of the study — during which the test protocol that’s been developed will be tested, studied and improved — will begin in 2009.
According to Alexander, $ 50 million was pumped into the forming of the study from 2000 to 2007, with $ 69 million and $ 111 million contributed by United States Congress in 2007 and 2008, respectively. It is expected Congress will continue to support the study and Scheidt estimated the entire study — from beginning to end — will cost $ 3. 2 billion.
That figure may seem high, but when put into perspective, Alexander believes it’s more than a worthwhile investment.
“ If the findings of these studies results in only a one percent reduction in national spending on health care, that’s $ 7. 58 billion per year the nation would save, ” Alexander said. “ This deals with autism, attention deficit disorders, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, schizophrenia and so much more. Our hope is that this study will result in significant savings in the nation’s health care costs. ”
Arkansas Children’s Hospital is the only pediatric medical center in Arkansas and one of the largest in the United States serving children from birth to age 21. ACH provides a research environment on the ACH campus. Research scientists at ACHRI conduct clinical, basic science and health-services research for the purpose of treating illnesses, preventing disease and improving the health of children everywhere.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
