COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF LOW-AIR-LOSS BEDS FOR TREATMENT OF PRESSURE ULCERS

Background. Cost-effectiveness of low-air-loss beds for the healing of pressure ulcers was analyzed in the nursing home setting. A statistic al model of pressure ulcer healing was used to estimate cost-effective ness based on patient and ulcer characteristics. Methods. Results of a previous randomized trial (84 patients from three nursing homes in Lo s Angeles) were reanalyzed and combined with estimates of costs to cal culate the cost-effectiveness in dollars per added day free of pressur e ulcers achieved by the use of low-air-loss beds compared to conventi onal foam mattresses. Results. The cost-effectiveness of the low-air-l oss bed was $26 per added day free of ulcers for our standard patient. Results were sensitive to low-air-loss bed lease costs and patient an d wound healing characteristics. Results were less sensitive to expect ed mortality, daily wound care costs, and time-frame of consideration. Low-air-loss beds were more cost-effective for patients with good hea ling characteristics and mild ulcers. Conclusions. Findings support th e expanded use of this technology for patients with mild pressure ulce rs and good healing characteristics. For these patients, the cost-effe ctiveness of low-air-loss beds is comparable to other accepted health treatments. For patients with severe ulcers and poor healing character istics, low-air-loss bed cost-effectiveness compares poorly with other accepted health treatments unless the lease cost can be substantially reduced, or unless life with a pressure ulcer is valued close to deat h.