Authors: Stevens, Katherine¹; McCabe, Christopher¹; Jones, Carys²; Ashcroft, Joanne²; Harvey, Sheila²; Rowan, Kathy²

Source: Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Volume 4, Number 4, 2005 , pp. 257-264(8)

Publisher: Adis International

Abstract:

Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct an economic evaluation to identify any differences in the expected costs and outcomes between patients treated with pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) and those without, in order to better inform healthcare decision makers.

Method: The evaluation was carried out alongside a clinical trial investigating the use of PACs in intensive care units (ICUs) in the UK. It was conducted from the perspective of the UK NHS, in which PACs are an established intervention. Treating patients without using a PAC was characterised as the new intervention.

The primary outcome measure was QALYs. The secondary outcome measure was hospital mortality. NHS costs per patient were calculated for the financial year 2002/03.

The bootstrap method was used to characterise the uncertainty of the results and to construct cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

Results: The cost per QALY and per life gained from the withdrawal of PACs were £2892 and £21 164, respectively.

Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that withdrawal of PACs from routine clinical use in ICUs within the NHS would be considered cost effective in the current decision-making climate.

Keywords: Cost effectiveness; Intensive care units; Lung disorders; Pulmonary surgery; Quality adjusted life years

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: 1 School of Health and Related Research (ScHARR), Health Economics and Decision Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England 2: 2 Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre (ICNARC), London, England

Publication date: 2005-01-01

More about this publication?

• Information for Authors
• ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Economics ,  Medicine (General)
• By this author: Stevens, Katherine ;  McCabe, Christopher ;  Jones, Carys ;  Ashcroft, Joanne ;  Harvey, Sheila ;  Rowan, Kathy

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers