Incremental Cost-Effectiveness of Surgical vs. Percutaneous Treatment of Patent Ductus Arteriosus with the Amplatzer^TM Duct Occluder in Children: A Systematic Review

Background:

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a relatively common congenital heart disease and the alternatives for the treatment of PDA > 2.5 mm are surgery or percutaneous occlusion with plugs. The latter, although considered the method of choice, are not provided by the Brazilian National Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde - SUS). Our objective was to compare the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of both strategies.

Methods:

Systematic review of clinical outcomes and development of a decision-making algorithm to evaluate the ICER of Amplatzer^TM Duct Occluder (ADO) vs. surgical treatment for the closure of PDA. Costs for both methods were calculated based on the reimbursement figures paid by the SUS in 2010 and the cost of the percutaneous kit (device + support materials) was estimated at R$ 10,000.00. We used as a threshold the willingness to pay the equivalent of three times the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product, i.e., R$ 57,000.00 per year of life saved.

Results:

Both techniques were safe and effective with less morbidity and shorter hospitalization time for percutaneous closure. Adjusted life expectancy was similar in both groups, and slightly better for the ADO group. Total cost was calculated as R$ 8,507 for surgery and R$ 11,000.00 for ADO. ICER was calculated as R$ 71,380.00 per year of life saved. A threshold analysis showed that a reduction of R$ 492.65 in the cost of the ADO kit would reduce the ICER to an acceptable value for the incorporation of this technology by the SUS.

Conclusions:

Percutaneous occlusion was associated with less morbidity and shorter hospital stay with similar incremental effectiveness when compared to the surgical treatment. With the direct costs used in this study and considering that the entire population with PDA is treated with the ADO, percutaneous occlusion was less cost-effective. However, a slight reduction in the costs of the percutaneous kit would result in a acceptable ICER threshold for possible incorporation by the SUS.

Ductus arteriosus, patent; Heart defects, congenital; Surgery; Prostheses and implants; Cost-benefit analysis