The impact of transition of Spina Bifida Care: A retrospective population-based cohort study comparing outcomes and health care costs longitudinally from adolescence into adulthood.

Introduction: Transition from multidisciplinary paediatric to adult care results in a significant change in the intensity of care provided to patients with spina bifida (SB).

Objective: To compare planned and unplanned health care utilization and costs of care of transitioning SB patients.

Study Design: Through a retrospective population-based cohort study, patients with SB born in Ontario between 1988 and 1999 were studied using routinely collected data analysed at ICES.