Episodic versus prophylactic infusions for hemophilia A: a cost-effectiveness analysis

P S Smith1, S M Teutsch, P A Shaffer

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Brown University, Providence 02903, USA.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|September 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Prophylactic care for severe hemophilia A significantly reduces bleeding events but incurs substantial costs. Cost-effectiveness improves with longer treatment duration and lower concentrate prices.

Area of Science:

  • Hematology
  • Health Economics
  • Pediatric Care

Background:

  • Severe hemophilia A requires lifelong management to prevent bleeding complications.
  • Current treatment paradigms include episodic care for bleeding events and prophylactic infusions.
  • The cost-effectiveness of these approaches requires detailed analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness of prophylactic versus episodic care in boys with severe hemophilia A.
  • To compare the economic impact of different prophylactic infusion durations.

Main Methods:

  • A comparative analysis using charge data from 11 U.S. hemophilia treatment centers.
  • Data collected from 70 boys on episodic care and 27 boys on prophylactic care over two years.
  • A cost-effectiveness model developed for hypothetical patients from ages 3 to 50 years.

Main Results:

  • Prophylactic care resulted in significantly fewer bleeding events (median 3 vs 31 annually) but higher concentrate use.
  • Factor VIII concentrate constituted over 93% of costs for both care types.
  • Prophylaxis from ages 3-20 cost $1100 per bleeding event prevented; from 3-50 years, $1380.
  • Total prophylactic costs could match episodic costs if concentrate prices were halved.

Conclusions:

  • Prophylactic care substantially decreases bleeding frequency and is expected to prevent joint damage.
  • Despite significant costs, prophylaxis offers clinical benefits in managing severe hemophilia A.
  • Economic viability of prophylaxis is sensitive to Factor VIII concentrate pricing.
Abstract

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