1. Cost-Effectiveness of Performing Reference Ultrasonography in Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis.
- Author
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de Jong CMM, van den Hout WB, van Dijk CE, Heim N, van Dam LF, Dronkers CEA, Gautam G, Ghanima W, Gleditsch J, von Heijne A, Hofstee HMA, Hovens MMC, Huisman MV, Kolman S, Mairuhu ATA, van Mens TE, Nijkeuter M, van de Ree MA, van Rooden CJ, Westerbeek RE, Westerink J, Westerlund E, Kroft LJM, and Klok FA
- Subjects
- Humans, Female, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Aged, Adult, Decision Support Techniques, Anticoagulants therapeutic use, Anticoagulants economics, Hemorrhage economics, Predictive Value of Tests, Venous Thrombosis diagnostic imaging, Venous Thrombosis economics, Venous Thrombosis mortality, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Ultrasonography economics, Health Care Costs, Recurrence
- Abstract
Background: The diagnosis of recurrent ipsilateral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) with compression ultrasonography (CUS) may be hindered by residual intravascular obstruction after previous DVT. A reference CUS, an additional ultrasound performed at anticoagulant discontinuation, may improve the diagnostic work-up of suspected recurrent ipsilateral DVT by providing baseline images for future comparison., Objectives: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of routinely performing reference CUS in DVT patients., Methods: Patient-level data ( n = 96) from a prospective management study (Theia study; NCT02262052) and claims data were used in a decision analytic model to compare 12 scenarios for diagnostic management of suspected recurrent ipsilateral DVT. Estimated health care costs and mortality due to misdiagnosis, recurrent venous thromboembolism, and bleeding during the first year of follow-up after presentation with suspected recurrence were compared., Results: All six scenarios including reference CUS had higher estimated 1-year costs (€1,763-€1,913) than the six without reference CUS (€1,192-€1,474). Costs were higher because reference CUS results often remained unused, as 20% of patients (according to claims data) would return with suspected recurrent DVT. Estimated mortality was comparable in scenarios with (14.8-17.9 per 10,000 patients) and without reference CUS (14.0-18.5 per 10,000). None of the four potentially most desirable scenarios included reference CUS., Conclusion: One-year health care costs of diagnostic strategies for suspected recurrent ipsilateral DVT including reference CUS are higher compared to strategies without reference CUS, without mortality benefit. These results can inform policy-makers regarding use of health care resources during follow-up after DVT. From a cost-effectiveness perspective, the findings do not support the routine application of reference CUS., Competing Interests: F.A.K. reports grants or contracts from Bayer, BMS, BSCI, MSD, Leo Pharma, Actelion, VarmX, The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, The Dutch Thrombosis Association, The Dutch Heart Foundation, and The Horizon Europe Program, all unrelated to this work and paid to his institution. All other authors report no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2024
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