Cost-effectiveness analysis of Malaysian neonatal intensive care units.
OBJECTIVE
To perform a cost-effective analysis on the care of infants between 1000 and 1500 g birthweight (the study group), where outcomes are measured as survival to 1 year of age.


METHODS
This was a multicenter observational study to determine the outcome, cost and cost-effectiveness of neonatal intensive care provided by Ministry of Health (MOH) Pediatric services. A total of 333 patients enrolled were eligible for analysis according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria of this study.


RESULTS
Overall survival probability of the study group infants at 1 year of age was 78%. Survival at 1-year of age was 77% for infants with birth weight 1000 to 1249 g, 79% for 1250 to 1499 g. Survival at 1 year of age for the sample group was 53% for 22 to 27 weeks gestation, 80% for 28 to 36 weeks. The average cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) of neonatal intensive care for the study group infants was US$3979 [corrected] per survivor at 1 year of age (95% confidence interval US$3411, 5160).


CONCLUSIONS
There was variability in the outcome and cost-effectiveness between the neonatal units, which need to be further assessed. However, neonatal intensive care services provided for the study group infants were cost-effective compared to that in developed countries.
Cheah
Irene Guat Sim
IG
Department of Paediatrics, Paediatric Institute, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Soosai
Anna Padma
AP
Wong
Swee Lan
SL
Lim
Teck Onn
TO
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal / Q000191:economics*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008296:Malaysia; D019370:Observation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome