Premium
Cost‐effectiveness of highly purified omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ethyl esters in the treatment of chronic heart failure: results of Markov modelling in a UK setting
Author(s) -
Cowie Martin R.,
Cure Sandrine,
Bianic Florence,
McGuire Alistair,
Goodall Gordon,
Tavazzi Luigi
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1093/eurjhf/hfr023
Subject(s) - medicine , life expectancy , heart failure , placebo , quality adjusted life year , quality of life (healthcare) , randomized controlled trial , clinical trial , polyunsaturated fatty acid , intensive care medicine , cost effectiveness , fatty acid , environmental health , population , risk analysis (engineering) , alternative medicine , nursing , organic chemistry , chemistry , pathology
Aims A recent randomized placebo‐controlled clinical trial has reported reductions in mortality and hospitalizations in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) who were prescribed highly purified omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ethyl esters (n‐3 PUFA). This study aimed at evaluating the cost and benefits associated with their use in the treatment of CHF in a UK setting. Methods and results Results from a recent clinical trial were used to develop a Markov model to project clinical outcomes while capturing relevant costs and patient quality of life. The model captured outcomes over a lifetime horizon from a UK National Health Service perspective, with direct costs accounted in 2009 GBP (£) and discounted at 3.5% together with clinical benefits. Results are presented in terms of life expectancy, quality‐adjusted life expectancy, direct costs, and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios. In addition to standard therapy, n‐3 PUFA vs. placebo increased lifetime direct costs by £993 (≈€1150), with additional quality‐adjusted life expectancy of 0.079 quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs), and mean lifetime costs of £12 636 (≈€14 600) per QALY gained. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses suggested a 60% likelihood of n‐3 PUFA being regarded as cost‐effective versus placebo at a willingness‐to‐pay threshold of £30 000 (≈€34 600) per QALY gained. Conclusions By currently accepted standards of value for money in the UK; the addition of n‐3 PUFA to optimal medical therapy for patients with heart failure is likely to be cost‐effective.