Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the setting of severe, acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: more effective and less expensive.
OBJECTIVE
The use of noninvasive ventilation for patients with acute respiratory failure has become increasingly popular over the last decade. Although the literature provides good evidence for the effectiveness of noninvasive ventilation in addition to standard therapy compared with standard therapy alone in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (avoiding intubation and improving hospital mortality), the associated costs have not been rigorously measured. Adding noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) to standard therapy in the setting of a severe, acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients with respiratory acidosis who are at high risk of requiring endotracheal intubation is both more effective and less expensive.


METHODS
Economic evaluation based on theoretical model.


METHODS
This analysis base case was modeled for a tertiary care, teaching hospital.


METHODS
Carefully selected patients with severe exacerbations of COPD.


METHODS
The two alternative therapies compared were standard therapy (oxygen, bronchodilators, steroids, and antibiotics) and standard therapy plus NPPV.


RESULTS
As the hypothesis was dominance, the main outcomes modeled and calculated were costs, mortality rate, and rates of intubation between the two interventions. To determine clinical effectiveness, we used a meta-analysis of randomized trials evaluating the impact of NPPV on hospital survival. A decision tree was constructed and probabilities were applied at each chance node using research evidence and a comprehensive regional database. To provide data for this economic evaluation, MEDLINE literature searches were conducted. Bibliographies of relevant articles were reviewed, as were personal files. To estimate the costs of the alternative therapeutic approaches, eight types of hospitalization days were costed using the London Health Sciences Center costing data. Sensitivity analyses were performed, varying all assumptions made. The meta-analysis yielded an odds ratio for hospital mortality in the NPPV arm, compared with standard therapy, of 0.22 (95% confidence interval, 0.10-0.66). By using baseline case assumptions, we found a cost savings of $3,244 (1996, Canadian), per patient admission, if NPPV were adopted in favor of standard therapy. These findings present a scenario of clear dominance for treatment with NPPV. Sensitivity analyses did not alter the results appreciably.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that from a hospital's perspective, NPPV and standard therapy for carefully selected patients with acute, severe exacerbations of COPD are more effective and less expensive than standard therapy alone.
Keenan
S P
SP
Richard Ivey Critical Care Trauma Center, London Health Sciences Centre, University of Western Ontario, Canada. Sean_Keenan@telxs.net
Gregor
J
J
Sibbald
W J
WJ
Cook
D
D
Gafni
A
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003663:Decision Trees; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000191:economics*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors