title: Economic consequences of alterations in platelet transfusion dose: analysis of a prospective, randomized, double-blind trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, decreasing financial resources led to the use of lower-dose platelet components. However, the economic consequences of the use of such components have not been carefully studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  A formal economic analysis was conducted of a recently reported, prospective, randomized, double-blind study examining the platelet dose-response relationship in nonrefractory patients. The economic analysis used a decision analysis model, conducted from the hospital's perspective and based directly on the observed clinical data and on institutional cost structures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The decision analysis model estimated that a 38-percent reduction in mean platelet dose, within the commonly prescribed dose range, would result in the average patient's requiring approximately 60 percent more transfusions in the posttransplant period (8 vs. 5; p = 0.05), which would result in an estimated 60-percent increase in the median cost to the hospital ($4486/patient vs. $2804/patient [in 1996 US dollars], p = 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts to decrease costs by utilizing lower-dose single-donor platelet transfusions are predicted to result in a disproportionate increase in the number of transfusions per patient, with a corresponding increase in overall hospital transfusion costs.
authors.affiliation: Covance Health Economics and Outcomes Services, Inc., Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ackerman
authors.forename: T R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Klumpp
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Guzman
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gaughan
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Bleecker
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Mangan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000191:economics*; D011446:Prospective Studies