Cost-effectiveness of breech version by acupuncture-type interventions on BL 67, including moxibustion, for women with a breech foetus at 33 weeks gestation: a modelling approach.
OBJECTIVE
To assess, using a modelling approach, the effectiveness and costs of breech version with acupuncture-type interventions on BL67 (BVA-T), including moxibustion, compared to expectant management for women with a foetal breech presentation at 33 weeks gestation.


METHODS
A decision tree was developed to predict the number of caesarean sections prevented by BVA-T compared to expectant management to rectify breech presentation. The model accounted for external cephalic versions (ECV), treatment compliance, and costs for 10,000 simulated breech presentations at 33 weeks gestational age. Event rates were taken from Dutch population data and the international literature, and the relative effectiveness of BVA-T was based on a specific meta-analysis. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the robustness of the results.


METHODS
We calculated percentages of breech presentations at term, caesarean sections, and costs from the third-party payer perspective. Odds ratios (OR) and cost differences of BVA-T versus expectant management were calculated. (Probabilistic) sensitivity analysis and expected value of perfect information analysis were performed.


RESULTS
The simulated outcomes demonstrated 32% breech presentations after BVA-T versus 53% with expectant management (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.43, 0.83). The percentage caesarean section was 37% after BVA-T versus 50% with expectant management (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.59, 0.88). The mean cost-savings per woman was euro 451 (95% CI euro 109, euro 775; p=0.005) using moxibustion. Sensitivity analysis showed that if 16% or more of women offered moxibustion complied, it was more effective and less costly than expectant management. To prevent one caesarean section, 7 women had to use BVA-T. The expected value of perfect information from further research was euro0.32 per woman.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that offering BVA-T to women with a breech foetus at 33 weeks gestation reduces the number of breech presentations at term, thus reducing the number of caesarean sections, and is cost-effective compared to expectant management, including external cephalic version.
van den Berg
Ineke
I
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. ineke.vandenberg@erasmusmc.nl
Kaandorp
Guido C
GC
Bosch
Johanna L
JL
Duvekot
Johannes J
JJ
Arends
Lidia R
LR
Hunink
M G Myriam
MG
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D001946:Breech Presentation / Q000628:therapy*; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000191:economics; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D006176:Gynecology / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008880:Midwifery / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D009071:Moxibustion / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D014710:Version, Fetal / Q000191:economics