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Partially hydrolysed 100% whey-based infant formula and the prevention of atopic dermatitis: comparative

Jörg Spieldenner1, Dominique Belli, Christophe Dupont

  • 1Nestlé Nutrition Institute, Avenue Reller 22, Vevey, Switzerland. joerg.spieldenner@nestle.com

Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism
|December 23, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Using partially hydrolysed whey infant formula (PHF-W) is cost-effective for preventing atopic dermatitis in high-risk infants. This approach offers savings compared to standard formula and extensively hydrolysed formulas.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Health Economics
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Clinical trials show partially hydrolysed whey infant formula (PHF-W) reduces atopic dermatitis risk in high-risk infants when breastfeeding is not possible.
  • The cost-effectiveness of using hydrolysed formulas for atopic dermatitis prevention remains largely unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a specific partially hydrolysed whey infant formula (PHF-W) compared to standard formula (SF) for atopic dermatitis prevention in at-risk infants.
  • To assess the cost-saving potential of PHF-W compared to extensively hydrolysed formulas (EHF) in prevention.

Main Methods:

  • Economic analyses conducted in 5 European countries.
  • A decision-analytic model with a 12-month horizon evaluated costs and resource utilization from public healthcare, family, and societal perspectives.
  • Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs); cost-minimisation analysis compared PHF-W with EHF.

Main Results:

  • CEA indicated PHF-W was cost-effective versus SF, with ICERs per avoided case ranging from EUR 982-1,343 (public healthcare), showing savings from family (-EUR 2,202 to -624) and societal (-EUR 1,220 to 719) perspectives.
  • Primary costs involved formula (public healthcare, societal) and parental time loss (family).
  • Cost-minimisation analysis revealed PHF-W offered savings of EUR 4.3–120 million compared to EHF-whey for prevention.

Conclusions:

  • Partially hydrolysed whey infant formula (PHF-W) is a cost-effective strategy for preventing atopic dermatitis in at-risk infants compared to standard formula.
  • PHF-W demonstrates cost savings when compared to extensively hydrolysed formulas for preventative use.
  • These findings support the use of PHF-W in infant feeding guidelines for atopic dermatitis prevention, considering economic benefits.

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