Cost-effectiveness analysis of diagnosis and treatment of airway hyperresponsiveness in children after mycoplasma pneumonia / 第二军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To compare the cost-effectiveness of montelukast and salbutamal for the treatment of children with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) after mycoplasma pneumoniae(MPP). Methods A total of 374 children with pneumonia during Oct. 2007 to Oct. 2008 were observed, and 185 of them had mycoplasma infection (four-fold or greater rise by paired serum sample or higher than 1 160 by a single serum sample). Of the 185 patients 118 complicated with AHR were included for cost-effectiveness analysis. They were divided into three groups, namely, routine treatment (group A), routine treatment plus salbutamal (group B), routine treatment plus montelukast (group C). The incidence, duration and alleviating time of stimulating cough and hospital stay were observed in the three groups. The peak expiratory flow (PEF) was also determined. Cost- effectiveness analysis was performed using the costs of the first class second level hospital in Shanghai. Results The incidence of AHR was 63. 8% in children with mycoplasma infection pneumonia in our group. Montelukast and salbutamal shortened the course of stimulating cough compared with group A. Cost-effectiveness analysis revealed that the cost of salbutamal was less than that of montelukast, with the cost-effectiveness ratio being 0. 86(P<0. 05). Conclusion Salbutamal is more cost-effective than montelukast for MPP children without other complications, which is a valuable information for clinicians.