The Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Teleglaucoma Screening Device

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Health Economics
• Telemedicine

Background:

• Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible vision loss, imposing significant economic burdens.
• Access to specialized ophthalmic care is limited in rural areas, exacerbating vision loss.
• Teleglaucoma offers a potential solution for remote detection and management of glaucoma.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of teleglaucoma compared to in-person examinations for glaucoma detection in rural Canada.
• To assess the impact of teleglaucoma on healthcare utilization, patient outcomes, and quality of life.

Main Methods:

• A cost-effectiveness analysis from a healthcare provider/payer perspective in rural Alberta.
• Markov modeling to simulate glaucoma health states and patient pathways.
• Calculation of Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios (ICERs) in Canadian dollars per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY).

Main Results:

• Teleglaucoma screening costs $872/patient, 80% less than in-person exams, reducing patient travel by 61 hours.
• It demonstrated higher incremental effectiveness (0.12 QALY/patient) with an ICER of -$27,460/QALY, indicating cost savings.
• Teleglaucoma sensitivity was 86.5% and specificity 78.6%, with potential to prevent 24% of glaucoma blindness cases long-term.

Conclusions:

• Teleglaucoma is a more cost-effective strategy than in-person examinations for glaucoma detection in rural settings.
• It improves access to ophthalmic care, enhances healthcare efficiency, and leads to better patient quality of life.
• The findings support the widespread adoption of teleglaucoma to mitigate the impact of glaucoma.