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[Cost-efficiency analysis of treatment of otitis media with effusion in children]
1Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Fundación Hospital Alcorcón, Madrid. gplaza@fhalcorcon.es
Insights
The most effective treatments for otitis media with effusion in children, such as surgery, offer significant benefits but incur higher costs. The most cost-effective approach balances effectiveness and expenses for better resource management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Health Economics
Context:
- Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a prevalent childhood condition linked to hearing impairment and recurrent acute infections.
- Current management strategies include watchful waiting, oral antibiotics, and surgical interventions like adenoidectomy and grommet insertion.
Purpose:
- To conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of different therapeutic options for otitis media with effusion in children.
- To evaluate direct and indirect costs associated with each treatment strategy.
- To identify the most economically efficient treatment for OME.
Summary:
- A sensitivity analysis on a hypothetical cohort of 1000 children assessed the cost-effectiveness of OME treatments.
- Effectiveness increased with more intensive treatments, from 92% to 98% with adenoidectomy and grommet insertion.
- Unit costs rose from €302 to €401 per child, indicating potential savings of €100 per child with optimal treatment selection.
Impact:
- The study highlights that while advanced treatments improve outcomes, higher fixed costs can limit resource allocation.
- Understanding cost-effectiveness is crucial for optimizing management strategies and resource utilization in pediatric OME care.
Abstract:
Otitis media with effusion is a common disorder in children, associated to hearing loss and recurrent acute otitis media. It has three basic treatments: Spontaneous resolution, oral antibiotics and surgery including adenoidectomy and/or grommets insertion. Through a sensibility analysis on a theoretical group of 1000 patients our aim is to study the cost-effectiveness of the different therapeutic options, evaluating direct and indirect costs, and identifying the most efficient option (cost-effective). We analysed effectiveness and variable costs of each arm of the decision tree, considering initial and rescue treatments. As expected, effectiveness grows up to the most through treatment, including adenoidectomy and grommets insertion, from 92% to 98% of children treated. Nevertheless, unitary cost of each child treated also increases, from 302 to 401 euros; that is, choosing the most cost-effective treatment enables to save approximately 100 euros per child. But, fixed costs, which are much higher (600 euros per child), will not change, limiting our management resources.
