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Skin tissue assessment is traditionally used to identify early signs of pressure damage from changes observed at the skin surface. However, the early onset of tissue damage induced by pressure and shear forces is likely to be on soft tissues beneath the surface of the skin. Subepidermal moisture (SEM) is a biophysical marker for the detection of early and deep pressure-induced tissue damage. Measurement of SEM can detect early pressure ulcers up to 5 days before visible skin changes occur. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of SEM measurement compared with visual skin assessment (VSA). A decision-tree model was developed. Outcomes are the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and costs to the UK National Health Service. Costs are at 2020/21 prices. The effects of parameter uncertainty are tested in univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. In a representative NHS acute hospital, the incremental cost of SEM assessment as an adjunct to VSA is -£8.99 per admission, and SEM assessment is expected to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers by 21.1%, reduce NHS costs and lead to a gain of 3.634 QALYs. The probability of cost-effectiveness at a threshold of £30 000 per quality-adjusted life year is 61.84%. Pathways that include SEM assessment make it possible to implement early and anatomy-specific interventions which have the potential to improve the effectiveness of pressure ulcer prevention and reduce healthcare costs.
myCOPD is a digital tool designed for people to manage their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It requires a device with an internet connection and incorporates tools for education, self-management, symptom tracking and pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). myCOPD was selected for medical technologies guidance by the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in 2020. The External Assessment Group (EAG) critiqued the company's submission. The evidence comprised four clinical studies (three randomised controlled trials [RCTs] and one observational study) and real-world evidence from 22 documents. The RCTs had small sample sizes, limiting the power to detect statistically significant differences and to match patient characteristics across arms. The company produced two de novo models for two subgroups of people with COPD; people discharged from hospital with acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD) and people referred for PR. After the EAG updated input parameters and adjusted the model structures, cost savings of £86,297 per clinical commissioning group (CCG) compared with standard care were estimated for the AECOPD population, with myCOPD predicted to be cost saving in 74% of iterations. Cost savings of £22,779 per CCG were estimated for the PR population (with the assumption that the CCG had an existing myCOPD licence), with myCOPD predicted to be cost saving in 86% of the iterations. The Medical Technologies Advisory Committee concluded that although myCOPD has the potential to help manage COPD in adults, further evidence is required to address uncertainties in the current evidence base. NICE published this as Medical Technology Guidance 68 (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). myCOPD for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 2022. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/mtg68/).
OBJECTIVES: We aim to conduct an economic evaluation of the Optilume urethral drug-coated balloon (DCB) compared with endoscopic management for the treatment of recurrent anterior male urethral stricture in England.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort Markov model was developed to estimate the costs and savings to the NHS over a 5-year time horizon of adopting Optilume for the treatment of anterior urethral male stricture versus current endoscopic standard of care. A scenario analysis was conducted which compared Optilume to urethroplasty. Probabilistic and deterministic sensitivity analyses were performed to estimate the impact of uncertainties in model parameters.
RESULTS: When compared with current endoscopic standard of care Optilume resulted in an estimated cost saving of £2502 per patient if introduced in the NHS for the treatment of recurrent anterior male urethral stricture. In the scenario analysis, the use of Optilume compared with urethroplasty resulted in an estimated cost saving of £243. Results were robust to changes in individual input parameters as demonstrated in the deterministic sensitivity analyses, with the monthly probability of symptom recurrence associated with endoscopic management the only exception. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis results demonstrated that Optilume was cost saving in 93.4% of model iterations, when running 1000 iterations.
CONCLUSION: Our analysis suggests that the Optilume urethral DCB treatment can be a cost-saving alternative management option for the treatment of recurrent anterior male urethral stricture within the NHS in England.
BACKGROUND: Tirbanibulin 1% ointment is a new treatment for actinic keratosis (AK) on the face or scalp. A health economic model was developed as part of a submission to the Scottish Medicines Consortium to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of tirbanibulin compared to the most frequently prescribed treatments.
METHODS: A decision tree approach was used to calculate the costs and benefits of different treatment strategies for AK on the face or scalp over a one-year time horizon. Data on the relative efficacy of treatments, which were based on the probability of complete clearance of AK, were obtained from a network meta-analysis. Sensitivity and scenario analyses were performed to determine the robustness of the model results.
RESULTS: Tirbanibulin is estimated to be cost saving versus diclofenac sodium 3%, imiquimod 5% and fluorouracil 5%. Tirbanibulin remains cost saving when inputs are varied in sensitivity and scenario analyses. While the complete clearance rates are deemed similar across comparators, tirbanibulin is associated with a lower rate of severe local skin reactions, and a shorter treatment duration, which may improve treatment adherence.
CONCLUSIONS: Tirbanibulin is a cost saving intervention for the treatment of AK from the perspective of the Scottish Healthcare System.
AIMS: To generate utility decrements for three attributes associated with catheterization for individuals with a spinal cord injury (SCI): the process of catheterization, the physical impact of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and worry associated with hospitalization.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Health state vignettes comprising various levels of the three attributes were developed. Two cohorts of respondents, corresponding to people with SCIs and a sample broadly representative of the UK population, were presented with nine vignettes (three vignettes for the mild, moderate and severe health states in addition to a random set of six vignettes). It was assumed no or a nominal decrement was associated with the mild health state. Utility decrements were derived from analysing the data obtained from the online time trade-off (TTO). A proportion of the SCI cohort (n = 57) also completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire.
RESULTS: Utility decrements were generated using statistical models for the general population (n = 358), the SCI population (n = 48) and the two populations combined (merged model, n = 406). Results from the two cohorts showed minimal differences. For the merged model, SCI status was not statistically significant. All interaction terms, excluding SCI and the severe level of the physical attribute, were not statistically significant. Compared to the mild level, the greatest utility decrement calculated was the severe level of the emotional (worry) attribute (0.09, p < .001) for the SCI population. A significant decrement of 0.02 (p < .001) was calculated for the moderate level of the emotional attribute for all models. The mean utility score for those with SCI having completed the EQ-5D-5L was 0.371. LIMITATIONS: Modest sample size of respondents from the SCI population (n = 48). CONCLUSIONS: Worry associated with hospitalization had the greatest impact on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The catheterization process, such as the lubrication and repositioning of the catheter, also impacted on patients' HRQoL.
BACKGROUND: Tailored smoking cessation interventions, which combine behavioural and pharmaceutical support, are effective in populations with severe mental illness (SMI). We establish the cost-effectiveness of two tailored interventions in the UK: (i) a bespoke smoking cessation intervention (BSCI) versus usual care, and (ii) integrated tobacco cessation and mental health care (IC) versus standard smoking cessation clinic (SCC) referral.
METHODS: This economic evaluation was conducted between January 15th 2019 and August 4th 2022. We adapted a Markov model estimating smoking status, healthcare costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) across the lifetime. Intervention effectiveness and costs were obtained from a systematic review and a meta-analysis. We obtained specific parameter values for populations with SMI for mortality, risk of smoking related comorbidities, and health utility. Uncertainty was analysed in deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA).
FINDINGS: The BSCI was cost-effective versus usual care with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £3145 per QALY (incremental costs: £165; incremental QALYs: 0.05). Integrated care was cost-effective versus SCC with an ICER of £6875 per QALY (incremental costs: £292; incremental QALYs: 0.04). The BSCI and IC were cost-effective in 89% and 83% of PSA iterations respectively. The main area of uncertainty related to relapse rates.
INTERPRETATION: Our findings suggested that the tailored interventions were cost-effective and could increase QALYs and decrease expenditure on treating smoking related morbidities if offered to people with SMI.
To estimate the costs and benefits of screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in a migrant population in Malaysia. An economic model was developed from a Malaysian healthcare perspective to compare QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QuantiFERON) with the tuberculin skin test (TST). A decision tree was used to capture outcomes relating to LTBI screening followed by a Markov model that simulated the lifetime costs and benefits of the patient cohort. The Markov model did not capture the impact of secondary infections. The model included an R shiny interactive interface to allow adaptation to other scenarios and settings. QuantiFERON is both more effective and less costly than TST (dominant). Compared with QuantiFERON, the lifetime risk of developing active TB increases by approximately 40% for TST due to missed LTBI cases during screening (i.e. a higher number of false negative cases for TST). For a migrant population in Malaysia, QuantiFERON is cost-effective when compared with TST. Further research should consider targeted LTBI screening for migrants in Malaysia based on common risk factors.
