Open AccessCost‐effectiveness of cardiotocography plus ST analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram compared with cardiotocography only
Author(s) -
VIJGEN SYLVIA M.C.,
WESTERHUIS MICHELLE E.M.H.,
OPMEER BRENT C.,
VISSER GERARD H.A.,
MOONS KARL G.M.,
PORATH MARTINA M.,
OEI GUID S.,
VAN GEIJN HERMAN P.,
BOLTE ANTOINETTE C.,
WILLEKES CHRISTINE,
NIJHUIS JAN G.,
VAN BEEK ERIK,
GRAZIOSI GIUSEPPE C.M.,
SCHUITEMAKER NICO W.E.,
VAN LITH JAN M.M.,
VAN DEN AKKER ELINE S.A.,
DROGTROP ADDY P.,
VAN DESSEL HENDRIKUS J.H.M.,
RIJNDERS ROBBERT J.P.,
OOSTERBAAN HERMAN P.,
MOL BEN WILLEM J.,
KWEE ANNEKE
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0412.2011.01138.x
Subject(s) - cardiotocography , medicine , metabolic acidosis , obstetrics , confidence interval , childbirth , population , pregnancy , umbilical artery , cephalic presentation , relative risk , apgar score , gestational age , pediatrics , fetus , genetics , environmental health , biology
Abstract Objective. To assess the cost‐effectiveness of addition of ST analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram (ECG; STAN ® ) to cardiotocography (CTG) for fetal surveillance during labor compared with CTG only. Design. Cost‐effectiveness analysis based on a randomized clinical trial on ST analysis of the fetal ECG. Setting. Obstetric departments of three academic and six general hospitals in The Netherlands. Population. Laboring women with a singleton high‐risk pregnancy, a fetus in cephalic presentation, a gestational age >36weeks and an indication for internal electronic fetal monitoring. Methods. A trial‐based cost‐effectiveness analysis was performed from a health‐care provider perspective. Main Outcome Measures. Primary health outcome was the incidence of metabolic acidosis measured in the umbilical artery. Direct medical costs were estimated from start of labor to childbirth. Cost‐effectiveness was expressed as costs to prevent one case of metabolic acidosis. Results. The incidence of metabolic acidosis was 0.7% in the ST‐analysis group and 1.0% in the CTG‐only group (relative risk 0.70; 95% confidence interval 0.38–1.28). Per delivery, the mean costs per patient of CTG plus ST analysis ( n = 2 827) were €1 345 vs. €1 316 for CTG only ( n = 2 840), with a mean difference of €29 (95% confidence interval −€9 to €77) until childbirth. The incremental costs of ST analysis to prevent one case of metabolic acidosis were €9 667. Conclusions. The additional costs of monitoring by ST analysis of the fetal ECG are very limited when compared with monitoring by CTG only and very low compared with the total costs of delivery.