Can hydrophilic coated catheters be beneficial for the public healthcare system in Brazil? - A cost-effectiveness analysis in patients with spinal cord injuries

ABSTRACT Introduction Detrusor sphincter dyssynergia affects 70% to 80% of all spinal cord injury patients, resulting in increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and potential exposure to antimicrobial resistance. In Brazil, local guidelines recommend intermittent catheterization as the best method for bladder emptying, and two catheter types are available: the conventional uncoated PVC and the hydrophilic coated catheters. Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of two types of catheters for intermittent catheterization from the perspective of the Brazilian public healthcare system. Materials and Methods A Markov model was used to evaluate cost-effectiveness in those with spinal cord injuries. A primary analysis was conducted on all possible adverse events, and a secondary analysis was performed with urinary tract infections as the only relevant parameter. The results were presented as cost per life years gained (LYG), per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) and per number of urinary tract infections (UTIs) avoided. Results The base scenario of all adverse events shows a cost-effective result of hydrophilic coated catheters compared to uncoated PVC catheters at 57,432 BRL (Brazilian Reais) per LYG and 122,330 BRL per QALY. The secondary scenario showed that the use of hydrophilic coated catheters reduces the total number of UTIs, indicating that an additional cost of hydrophilic coated catheters of 31,240 BRL over a lifetime will reduce lifetime UTIs by 6%. Conclusions Despite the higher unit value, the use of hydrophilic coated catheters is a cost-effective treatment from the perspective of the Brazilian public healthcare system.

O custo do cateterismo vesical de demora nos pacientes internados na unidade de terapia intensiva / El costo de la sonda vesical en pacientes hospitalizados en la unidad de cuidados intensivos / The cost of the urinary catheterization in patients admitted to the intensive care unit

Valorar os itens do custo direto do cateter vesical de demora (CVD) e realizar sua avaliação econômica parcial nos pacientes internados na Unidades de Terapia Intensiva (UTIs) com e sem infecções do trato urinário (ITU). Método: Trata-se de estudo descritivo do tipo série de casos, que utilizou a avaliação econômica parcial para estudar os custos diretos do cateterismo vesical de demora, analisando prontuários dos pacientes. Resultados: 48,45% do custo do CVD deve-se ao sistema coletor de urina, seguido do cloridrato de lidocaína (20,38%) e cateter Foley (12,70%). O aumento dos custos do CVD, associado ao tratamento da ITU, representa um aumento do custo em 18 vezes em ambas as UTIs, extrapolando o valor dos tratamentos em R$ 3.537.692,79, abrindo possibilidades para trabalhos de avaliação do custo-efetividade. Conclusão: A ITU associada ao CVD traz grande impacto no orçamento hospitalar, cabendo à análise econômica a alocação racional de recursos.

Urinary catheters (UC) are one of the most widely used invasive devices in intensive care units (ICUs), and its insertion is a major contributor to the development of complications, increasing hospitalization time and costs. Objectives: To evaluate the direct cost of UC and to carry out their partial economic evaluation in patients hospitalized in the ICU with and without UTI. Methods: Descriptive study, using partial economic evaluation by analyzing patients’ charts from a specific form. Results: 48.45% of the UC’s cost are due to the urine collection system, followed by lidocaine hydrochloride (20.38%) and Foley catheter (12.70%). The increase in UC’s costs, associated with UTI treatment, represent >18 times. By extrapolating the value of UTI’s treatments to the Brazilian healthcare system, the difference would be R$ 3,537,692.79. Conclusion: Catheter- associated UTI has a large impact on the hospital budget.

Los catéteres urinarios (CAU) son uno de los dispositivos invasivos más ampliamente utilizados en las unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI), y su inserción es un importante contribuyente al desarrollo de complicaciones, hospitalización y costos. Objetivos: Evaluar el coste directo de la CAU y desarrollar una evaluación económica parcial em pacientes hospitalizados en la UCI con y sin infección del tracto urinario. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo mediante el análisis de los archivos de los pacientes. Resultados: 48,45% del costo de la UC se deben al sistema de recolección de orina, seguido de clorhidrato de lidocaína (20,38%) y el catéter de Foley (12,70%). El aumento de los costos de la CAU, associados con el tratamiento en la UCI representan >18 veces. Extrapolando el valor de los tratamientos UCI para el sistema de salud brasileño, la diferencia sería R$ 3,537,692.79. Conclusión: ITU asociada al catéter tiene un gran impacto en el presupuesto de hospital.

Estudo comparativo sobre dois tipos de cateteres para cateterismo intermitente limpo em crianças estomizadas / Estudio comparativo sobre dos tipos de catéteres para cateterismo intermitente limpio en niños entomizados / A comparison between two catheters for clean intermittent catheterization in continent children with a urostomy

O estudo, do tipo crossover, objetivou comparar o uso de dois cateteres para cateterismo intermitente limpo em crianças com urostomias continentes, no que se refere ao manejo, complicações e custos diretos. Cumpridas as exigências éticas, foi desenvolvido em um Hospital Infantil, em São Paulo. As crianças que, juntamente com seus responsáveis, consentiram em participar da investigação, foram submetidas à utilização consecutiva de cateter tradicional e do cateter pré-lubrificado, durante um mês cada um. Nesse período, as crianças preencheram os instrumentos de coleta de dados e foram acompanhadas pelas pesquisadoras semanalmente, por meio de visitas domiciliares e consultas hospitalares, que incluíram a coleta quinzenal de culturas qualitativas e quantitativas de urina. Os dados foram analisados utilizando-se os testes de Wilcoxon e Kaplan Meyer. Onze crianças completaram o estudo. Os resultados mostraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas apenas quanto aos custos diretos (p=0,003), superiores para o cateter pré-lubrificado.

The objective of this crossover study was to compare the use of two catheters for clean intermittent catheterization in continent children with a urostomy, in terms of their handling, complications and direct costs. This study complied with all ethical requirements and was developed at a Children's Hospital in the city of São Paulo. The children who, together with their guardians, agreed to participate in the study were submitted to the consecutive use of both the traditional and the pre-lubricated catheter, for one month each. During that period, the children completed the data collection instruments and were followed by the researchers once a week through home visits and hospital consultations, including quantitative and qualitative urine cultures that were performed every other week. Data analysis was performed using Wilcoxon and Kaplan-Meier tests. Eleven children completed the study. Statistical significant differences were found only for costs (p=0.003), which were higher for pre-lubricated catheters.

El estudio, del tipo crosover, objetivó comparar el uso de dos catéteres para cateterismo intermitente limpio en niños con urostomías continentes, en lo que se refiere al manejo, complicaciones y costos directos. Cumplidas las exigencias éticas, fue desarrollado en un Hospital Infantil, en São Paulo. Los niños que, juntamente con sus responsables, consintieron en participar de la investigación, fueron sometidos a la utilización consecutiva de catéter tradicional y de catéter lubrificado, durante un mes cada uno. En ese período, las niños llenaron los instrumentos de recolección de datos y fueron acompañados por las investigadoras semanalmente, por medio de visitas domiciliares y consultas hospitalarias, que incluyeron a recolección quincenal de culturas cualitativas y cuantitativas de orina. Los datos fueron analizados utilizando las pruebas de Wilcoxon y Kaplan Meyer. Once niños completaron el estudio. Los resultados mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas apenas en lo que se refiere a costos directos (p=0,003), superiores para el catéter lubrificado.