Objective: To determine the cost-effectiveness/utility of a superabsorbent wound dressing
(Zetuvit Plus Silicone) versus the current standard of care (SoC) dressings, from
the NHS perspective in England, in patients with moderate-to-high exudating leg ulcers.
Method: A model-based economic evaluation was conducted to analyse the cost-effectiveness/utility
of a new intervention. We used a microsimulation state-transition model with a time
horizon of six months and a cycle length of one week. The model uses a combination
of incidence base and risk prediction approach to inform transition probabilities.
All clinical efficiency, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), cost and resource
use inputs were informed by conducting a systematic review of UK specific literature.
Results: Treatment with the superabsorbent dressing leads to a total expected cost
per patient for a six month period of 2887 pound, associated with 15.933 expected
quality adjusted life weeks and 10.9% healing rate. When treated with SoC, the total
expected cost per patient for a six month period is 3109 pound, 15.852 expected quality
adjusted life weeks and 8% healing rate. Therefore, the superabsorbent dressing leads
to an increase in quality-adjusted life weeks, an increase in healing rate by 2.9%
and a cost-saving of 222 pound per single average patient over six months. Results
of several scenario analyses, one-way deterministic sensitivity analysis, and probabilistic
sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of base-case results. The probabilistic
analysis confirmed that, in any combination of variable values, the superabsorbent
dressing leads to cost saving results. Conclusion: According to the model prediction,
the superabsorbent dressing leads to an increase in health benefits and a decrease
in associated costs of treatment. Declaration of interest: Vladica M. Velickovic,
Streit Iris, Adriana Bordeanu, Daniela Kaspar, Jorg Linder, and Hans Smola are full-time
employees of the Hartmann Group.
