title: COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION VERSUS LASER FOR VARICOSE VEINS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the clinical benefits of endovenous thermal ablation are widely recognized, few studies have evaluated the health economic implications of different treatments. This study compares 6-month clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) compared with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the setting of a randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with symptomatic primary varicose veins were randomized to EVLA or RFA and followed up for 6 months to evaluate clinical improvements, health related quality of life (HRQOL) and cost-effectiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 131 patients were randomized, of which 110 attended 6-month follow-up (EVLA n = 54; RFA n = 56). Improvements in quality of life (AVVQ and SF-12v2) and Venous Clinical Severity Scores (VCSS) achieved at 6 weeks were maintained at 6 months, with no significant difference detected between treatment groups. There were no differences in treatment failure rates. There were small differences in favor of EVLA in terms of costs and 6-month HRQOL but these were not statistically significant. However, RFA is associated with less pain at up to 10 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EVLA and RFA result in comparable and significant gains in quality of life and clinical improvements at 6 months, compared with baseline values. EVLA is more likely to be cost-effective than RFA but absolute differences in costs and HRQOL are small.
authors.affiliation: Academic Section of Vascular Surgery,Imperial College School of Medicine,Charing Cross Hospital.
authors.forename: Amanda C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Economics,University of Granadamortega2@ugr.es.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortega-Ortega
authors.affiliation: Academic Section of Vascular Surgery,Imperial College School of Medicine,Charing Cross Hospital; andDepartment of Vascular Surgery,Addenbrooke's Hospital Cambridge.
authors.forename: Manj S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Gohel
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Economics,University of Granada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council,Clinical Trials Unit,University College London.
authors.forename: Louise C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Academic Section of Vascular Surgery,Imperial College School of Medicine,Charing Cross Hospital.
authors.forename: Alun H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D028022:Low-Level Light Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Cost-effectiveness; Endovenous laser ablation; Quality of life; Radiofrecuency ablation