Cost-effectiveness of pathogen inactivation for platelet transfusions in the Netherlands.

The objective of this study is to estimate cost-effectiveness of pathogen inactivation for platelet transfusions in the Netherlands. We used decision tree analysis to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the addition of pathogen inactivation of pooled platelets to standard procedures for platelet transfusion safety (such as, donor recruitment and screening). Data on transfusions were derived from the University Medical Centre Groningen (the Netherlands) for 1997. Characteristics of platelet recipients (patient group, age, gender and survival) and data/assumptions on viral and bacterial risks were linked to direct and indirect costs/benefits of pathogen inactivation. Post-transfusion survival was simulated with a Markov model. Standard methods for cost-effectiveness were used. Cost-effectiveness was expressed in net costs per life-year gained (LYG) and estimated in baseline- and sensitivity analysis. Sensitivity was analysed with respect to various assumptions including sepsis risk, reduction of the discard rate and discounting. Stochastic analysis to derive 90% simulation intervals (SIs) was performed on sepsis risk. Net costs per LYG for pathogen inactivation were estimated 554,000 euro in the baseline-weighted average over the three patient groups (90% SI: 354,000-1092,500 euro). Sensitivity analysis revealed that cost-effectiveness was insensitive to viral risks and indirect costing, but highly sensitive to the assumed excess transfusions required and discounting of LYG. Given relatively high net costs per LYG that are internationally accepted for blood transfusion safety interventions, our estimated cost-effectiveness figures for pathogen inactivation may reflect acceptable cost-effectiveness in this specific area. Two main assumptions of our model were that the pathogen inactivation was 100% effective in preventing transmission of the pathogens considered and was not associated with major and/or costly adverse reactions. Validation of several crucial parameters is required, in particular the Dutch risk for acquiring and dying of transfusion-related sepsis.

The cost-effectiveness of routine childhood varicella vaccination in Germany.

This study explores the economic value of a routine varicella vaccination program for Germany. An age-structured decision analytic model was used to assess the benefits, costs and cost-effectiveness of an immunization program for a period of 30 years. Three interventions were compared with no vaccination: universal vaccination of around 15 months old healthy children, vaccination of susceptible adolescents (11-12 years of age), and the combined strategy. The analysis was conducted from both the societal perspective and the payers', i.e. sickness funds, perspective. Input data were mainly derived from a retrospective survey (analyzed were 1334 patient records) and from a seroprevalence study (n = 4602 sera). Using a coverage rate of 85% and a vaccine efficacy rate of 86% routine children vaccination could prevent around 611,000 varicella cases and over 4700 major complications per year. Average yearly cost savings for the society are 51.3 million Euro. The benefit-cost ratio (BCR) is 4.12. From the third-party payer's perspective, the BCR is 1.75 which is a consequence of significant reimbursement of parent's lost earnings by German sickness funds. The adolescent vaccination strategy has a favorable BCR ratio of 8.44 from the societal perspective, but clearly inferior medical effects. The combined vaccination strategy showed similar results as the children strategy. Routine childhood varicella vaccination appears to be a highly efficient strategy to reduce the burden of varicella and results in significant savings for both the society and the payers.

Pharmaco-economics of blood transfusion safety: review of the available evidence.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pharmaco-economics provides a standardized methodology for valid comparisons of interventions in different fields of health care. The role of pharmaco-economics in the safety of blood and blood products has, however, been very limited to date. This review discusses the pharmaco-economic evaluations of strategies to enhance blood product safety that have been published in the scientific literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed pharmaco-economic methodology with special reference to cost-effectiveness analysis. We searched the literature for cost-effectiveness in blood product safety. RESULT: Net costs per quality adjusted life-year (QALY) gained varied from cost-saving for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody screening and leucoreduction to several million US dollars per QALY gained for solvent-detergent treatment of plasma, nucleic acid amplification testing and HIV p24 antigen testing. CONCLUSIONS: To date the safety of blood transfusion has been largely determined by available technology, irrespective of pharmaco-economics. Net costs up to several million US dollars per QALY gained were found for interventions implemented.