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Cost-effectiveness analysis of a randomized clinical trial of early versus deferred endovenous ablation of superficial venous reflux in patients with venous ulceration
Epstein, D. M. Gohel, M. S. Heatley, F Liu, X. Bradbury, A. Bulbulia, R. Bulbulia Cullum, N. Nyamekye, I. Poskitt, K. R. Renton, S.
Epstein, D. M.
Gohel, M. S.
Heatley, F
Liu, X.
Bradbury, A.
Bulbulia, R. Bulbulia
Cullum, N.
Nyamekye, I.
Poskitt, K. R.
Renton, S.
Abstract
Background
Treatment of superficial venous reflux in addition to compression therapy accelerates venous leg ulcer healing and reduces ulcer recurrence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the costs and cost-effectiveness of early versus delayed endovenous treatment of patients with venous leg ulcers.
Methods
This was a within-trial cost-utility analysis with a 1-year time horizon using data from the EVRA (Early Venous Reflux Ablation) trial. The study compared early versus deferred endovenous ablation for superficial venous truncal reflux in patients with a venous leg ulcer. The outcome measure was the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) over 1 year. Sensitivity analyses were conducted with alternative methods of handling missing data, alternative preference weights for health-related quality of life, and per protocol.
Results
After early intervention, the mean(s.e.m.) cost was higher (difference in cost per patient £163(318) (€184(358))) and early intervention was associated with more QALYs at 1 year (mean(s.e.m.) difference 0·041(0·017)). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was £3976 (€4482) per QALY. There was an 89 per cent probability that early venous intervention is cost-effective at a threshold of £20 000 (€22 546)/QALY. Sensitivity analyses produced similar results, confirming that early treatment of superficial reflux is highly likely to be cost-effective.
Conclusion
Early treatment of superficial reflux is highly likely to be cost-effective in patients with venous leg ulcers over 1 year. Registration number: ISRCTN02335796 (http://www.isrctn.com).
Keywords
Date
2019
Type
Journal article
Journal
British Journal of Surgery
Book
Volume
106
Issue
5
Page Range
555-562
Article Number
ACU Department
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled