Estimated cost-effectiveness of active middle-ear implantation in hearing-impaired patients with severe external otitis.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To determine the cost-effectiveness of middle-ear implantations in hearing-impaired patients with severe external otitis in the Netherlands.

DESIGN:

Cost-effectiveness analysis, using single-subject repeated measures of quality of life and total cost determinations.

SETTING:

Hospital based. Patients Moderately to severely sensorineurally hearing-impaired patients (n = 21) with severe chronic external otitis, eligible to receive a middle-ear implant. Main Outcome Measure Cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), based on scores of the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form Health()Survey (SF-36) generic quality of life questionnaire. Only direct costs were included in cost calculation of middle-ear implantation.

RESULTS:

Mean health utility gain was 0.046 (0.012-0.079) (P = .01) measured at the mental component of the SF-36. With a mean profitable time of 19.4 years and an overall cost of euro 14,354, minimal cost-effectiveness of middle-ear implantation was euro 16,085/QALY.

CONCLUSION:

Based on the cost per QALY, middle-ear implantation proved to be a cost-effective and justified health care intervention in the Netherlands.

• Authors: Ad F M Snik, Noortje T L van Duijnhoven, Emmanuel A M Mylanus, Cor W R J Cremers
• Journal: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 132 Issue 11 Pg. 1210-5 (Nov 2006) ISSN: 0886-4470 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17116816 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Chronic Disease
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Female
• Hearing Loss, Sensorineural (therapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Netherlands
• Ossicular Prosthesis (economics)
• Otitis Externa (complications)
• Prospective Studies
• Quality of Life