Pharmacoeconomic comparison of an albumin-furosemide complex versus sequential therapy for renal insufficiency

The purpose of this economic analysis was to develop an economic model usin g intra-institutional cost data for acute, oliguric renal insufficiency tre ated with either an albumin-furosemide complex or albumin followed by furos emide (sequential therapy). The perspective of this study was from the stan dpoint of the institution (University Medical Center, a teaching hospital). The decision tree and sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the albumin-f urosemide complex would be more effective and less costly than sequential t herapy for a range of outcome probabilities. Using effectiveness assumption s from published literature, the complex could avoid dialysis in 27% of pat ients compared with 8% of patients receiving sequential therapy. The comple x would also be less costly ($7778 vs $8748). In terms of cost-effectivenes s, the complex is $28,807 per averted dialysis compared with $109,350 for s equential therapy.