Cost-effectiveness analysis of immune-modulating nutritional support for gastrointestinal cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
Immune-modulating nutritional formula containing arginine, omega-3 fatty acids and nucleotides has been demonstrated to decrease complications and length of stay in surgical patients. This study aims at assessing the impact of immune-modulating formula on hospital costs in gastrointestinal cancer surgical patients in Switzerland.


METHODS
Based on a previously published meta-analysis, the relative risks of overall and infectious complications with immune-modulating versus standard nutrition formula were computed. Swiss hospital costs of patients undergoing gastrointestinal cancer surgery were retrieved. A method was developed to compute the patients' severity level, not taking into account the complications from the surgery. Incremental costs of complications were computed for both treatment groups, and sensitivity analyses were carried out.


RESULTS
Relative risk of complications with pre-, peri- and post-operative use of immune-modulating formula was 0.69 (95%CI 0.58-0.83), 0.62 (95%CI 0.53-0.73) and 0.73 (95%CI 0.35-0.96) respectively. The estimated average contribution of complications to the cost of stay was CHF 14,949 (€10,901) per patient (95%CI 10,712-19,186), independently of case's severity. Based on this cost, immune-modulating nutritional support decreased costs of hospital stay by CHF 1638 to CHF 2488 per patient (€1195-€1814). Net hospital savings were present for baseline complications rates as low as 5%.


CONCLUSIONS
Immune-modulating nutritional solution is a cost-saving intervention in gastrointestinal cancer patients. The additional cost of immune-modulating formula are more than offset by savings associated with decreased treatment of complications.
Nestlé Health Science, Avenue Nestlé 55, BP 353, CH-1800 Vevey, Switzerland. Electronic address: helene.chevrouseverac@nestle.com.
Hélène
H
Chevrou-Séverac
University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Medical Direction, Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Christophe
C
Pinget
University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Department of Visceral Surgery, Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Yannick
Y
Cerantola
University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Department of Visceral Surgery, Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Nicolas
N
Demartines
University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Medical Direction, Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Jean-Blaise
JB
Wasserfallen
University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Department of Visceral Surgery, Rue du Bugnon 46, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Markus
M
Schäfer
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000032:analysis / Q000191:economics*; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000191:economics*; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013557:Switzerland
D012996:Solutions
Cost-effectiveness analysis; Gastrointestinal cancer surgery; Immune-modulating formula; Post-surgical complication risk