A cost-effectiveness analysis of epoetin usage for patients with AIDS.
Epoetin (recombinant human erythropoietin) therapy for patients with AIDS may reduce the need for blood transfusion; however, it is expensive.  We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis of the use of epoetin for AIDS patients from a healthcare system perspective.  We constructed a decision analysis model using probability, outcome and cost data from the literature and hospital sources.  The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was measured in dollars per unit of blood saved.  In AIDS patients undergoing transfusion with serum epoetin concentrations less than or equal to 500 U/L treatment with epoetin cost $US1007 per unit of blood saved compared with treatment without epoetin.  One-way sensitivity analysis revealed that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was sensitive to the efficacy and unit price of epoetin, but less sensitive to the current price cap determined by the distributor.
The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Department of Internal Medicine.
S B
SB
Cantor
R W
RW
Carson
S J
SJ
Spann
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003663:Decision Trees; D016527:Drug Costs; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans