title: Cost-effectiveness of treating vascular leg ulcers with UrgoStart(®) and UrgoCell(®) Contact.
abstract: Although chronic wounds have a high socio-economic impact, data on comparative effectiveness of treatments are rare. UrgoStart(®) is a hydroactive dressing containing a nano-oligosaccharide factor (NOSF). This study aimed at evaluating the cost-effectiveness of this NOSF-containing wound dressing in vascular leg ulcers compared with a similar neutral foam dressing (UrgoCell(®) Contact) without NOSF. Cost-effectiveness analysis from the perspective of the German statutory health care system was performed using a decision tree model for a period of 8 weeks. Cost and outcome data were derived from the clinical study 'Challenge' suggesting a response rate (≥40% wound size reduction) of UrgoStart(®) of 65·6% versus 39·4% for the comparator. In the treatment model, effect-adjusted costs of €849·86 were generated after 8 weeks for treatment with UrgoStart(®) versus €1335·51 for the comparator resulting in an effect-adjusted cost advantage of €485·64 for UrgoStart(®) . In linear sensitivity analyses, the outcomes were stable for varying assumptions on prices and response rates. In an 8-week period of treatment for vascular leg ulcers, UrgoStart(®) shows superior cost-effectiveness when compared with the similar neutral foam dressing without any active component (NOSF). As demonstrated within a randomised, double-blind clinical trial, UrgoStart(®) is also more effective in wound area reduction than the neutral foam dressing. Wound healing was not addressed in this clinical trial. Follow-up data of 12 months to allow for reulceration assessment were not generated.
authors.affiliation: Institute and German Center for Health Services Research in Dermatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
authors.affiliation: Institute and German Center for Health Services Research in Dermatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herberger
authors.affiliation: Helios Klinikum Krefeld, Krefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kroeger
authors.affiliation: Phlebological Practice, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Muenter
authors.affiliation: Institute and German Center for Health Services Research in Dermatology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goepel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Empirical Health Economics, Burscheid, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rychlik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003663:Decision Trees; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018803:Models, Economic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Cost-effectiveness; Direct costs; Efficiency; Leg ulcers