[Cost-efficiency analysis of treatment of otitis media with effusion in children].
Otitis media with effusion is a common disorder in children, associated to hearing loss and recurrent acute otitis media. It has three basic treatments: Spontaneous resolution, oral antibiotics and surgery including adenoidectomy and/or grommets insertion. Through a sensibility analysis on a theoretical group of 1000 patients our aim is to study the cost-effectiveness of the different therapeutic options, evaluating direct and indirect costs, and identifying the most efficient option (cost-effective). We analysed effectiveness and variable costs of each arm of the decision tree, considering initial and rescue treatments. As expected, effectiveness grows up to the most through treatment, including adenoidectomy and grommets insertion, from 92% to 98% of children treated. Nevertheless, unitary cost of each child treated also increases, from 302 to 401 euros; that is, choosing the most cost-effective treatment enables to save approximately 100 euros per child. But, fixed costs, which are much higher (600 euros per child), will not change, limiting our management resources.
Plaza
G
G
Unidad de Otorrinolaringología, Fundación Hospital Alcorcón, Madrid. gplaza@fhalcorcon.es
de los Santos
G
G
D000233:Adenoidectomy / Q000191:economics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D009225:Myringoplasty / Q000191:economics; D010034:Otitis Media with Effusion / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D013030:Spain
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents