1. A trial-based cost-effectiveness analysis of antibiotic prescription strategies for non-complicated respiratory tract infections in children
- Author
-
Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Mas-Dalmau G; Pérez-Lacasta MJ; Alonso-Coello P; Gorrotxategi-Gorrotxategi P; Argüelles-Prendes E; Espinazo-Ramos O; Valls-Duran T; Gonzalo-Alonso ME; Cortés-Viana MP; Menéndez-Bada T; Vázquez-Fernández ME; Pérez-Hernández AI; Muñoz-Ortiz L; Villanueva-López C; Little P; de la Poza-Abad M; Carles-Lavila M; DAP Paediatrics Group, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, and Mas-Dalmau G; Pérez-Lacasta MJ; Alonso-Coello P; Gorrotxategi-Gorrotxategi P; Argüelles-Prendes E; Espinazo-Ramos O; Valls-Duran T; Gonzalo-Alonso ME; Cortés-Viana MP; Menéndez-Bada T; Vázquez-Fernández ME; Pérez-Hernández AI; Muñoz-Ortiz L; Villanueva-López C; Little P; de la Poza-Abad M; Carles-Lavila M; DAP Paediatrics Group
- Abstract
Antibiotic prescription for respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children attending primary care centres is almost double that predicted according to bacterial prevalence. Delayed antibiotic prescription (DAP) is designed to deploy a more rational use of antibiotics. While studies have evaluated DAP efficacy and safety for children with RTIs, little research has been conducted on the economic implications.Our trial compared cost-effectiveness for DAP, immediate antibiotic prescription (IAP), and no antibiotic prescription (NAP) for children aged 2-14 years with acute uncomplicated RTIs attended to in 39 primary care centres in Spain. The main outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), measured in euros per gained quality-adjusted life days (QALDs). Net monetary benefit (NMB) was also calculated as a tool for decision making. The analysis was performed from a societal perspective for a time horizon of 30 days, and included healthcare direct costs, non-healthcare direct and indirect costs, and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) cost.DAP was the most cost-effective strategy, even when the cost of AMR was included. QALD values for the three strategies were very similar. IAP compared to DAP was more costly (109.68 vs 100.90 euros) and similarly effective (27.88 vs 27.94 QALDs). DAP compared to NAP was more costly (100.90 vs 97.48 euros) and more effective (27.94 vs. 27.82 QALDs). The ICER for DAP compared to NAP was 28.84 euros per QALD. The deterministic sensitivity analysis indicated that non-healthcare indirect costs had the greatest impact on the ICER. The cost-effectiveness acceptability curve showed that DAP was the preferred option in approximately 81.75% of Monte Carlo iterations, assuming a willingness-to-pay value of 82.2 euros per gained QALD.W
- Published
- 2023