Cost-effectiveness of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of diabetic ulcers

• Published in: International journal of technology assessment in health care Vol. 19; no. 4; p. 731
• Main Authors: Guo, Shien, Counte, Michael A, Gillespie, Kathleen N, Schmitz, Homer
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-12-2003
• Subjects: Cohort Studies; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Decision Trees; Diabetic Foot - economics; Diabetic Foot - therapy; Female; Humans; Hyperbaric Oxygenation - economics; Male; Middle Aged; Quality-Adjusted Life Years
• ISSN: 0266-4623
• DOI: 10.1017/S0266462303000710

This study estimates the cost-effectiveness (CE) of the adjunctive use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy in the treatment of diabetic ulcers based on the payer's and societal perspectives.
The study population was a hypothetical cohort of 1,000 patients sixty years of age with severe diabetic foot ulcers. A decision tree model was constructed to estimate the CE of HBO2 therapy in the treatment of diabetic ulcers at years 1, 5, and 12. Scenario and one-way sensitivity analyses were also undertaken to identify parameters that may significantly influence the estimates.
The CE model estimated that the incremental cost per additional quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained at years 1, 5, and 12, was dollar 27,310, dollar 5,166, and dollar 2,255, respectively.
The study results indicate that HBO2 therapy in the treatment of diabetic ulcers is cost-effective, particularly based on a long-term perspective. However, the results are limited by the clinical studies that provide the basis of the CE estimation.