Lw. Doyle et al., ECONOMIC OUTCOME FOR INTENSIVE-CARE OF INFANTS OF BIRTH-WEIGHT 500-999 G BORN IN VICTORIA IN THE POST SURFACTANT ERA, Journal of paediatrics and child health, 33(3), 1997, pp. 202-208
Objective: To determine the incremental cost of improving the outcome
for extremely low birthweight (ELBW, birthweight 500-999 g) infants bo
rn in Victoria after the introduction of exogenous surfactant (the pos
t surfactant era), Methodology: This was a geographically determined c
ohort study of ELBW children in Victoria, Australia of consecutive liv
ebirths born in three distinct eras: (i) 1979-80 (n=351); (ii) 1985-87
(n=560); and (iii) 1991-92 (n=429). Exogenous surfactant was first us
ed in Victoria in March, 1991. The consumption of nursery resources pe
t livebirth, and the survival and sensorineural disability rates at 2
years of age for each era were investigated. Utilities were assigned a
s follows: 0 for dead, 0.4 for severe disability, 0.6 for moderate dis
ability, 0.8 for mild disability, and 1 for no disability, Utilities w
ere multiplied for more than one disability, Dollar costs were assumed
to be $1470 (SA 1992) per day of assisted ventilation, and one dose o
f exogenous surfactant was assumed to be equivalent to one third of a
day of assisted ventilation. Cost-effectiveness (additional costs per
additional survivor or life-year gained) and cost-utility (additional
costs per additional quality-adjusted survivor or life-year gained) ra
tios were calculated for the pre-surfactant era (1985-87 vs 1979-80),
and for the post surfactant era (1991-92 vs 1985-87). Results: Conside
ring only the costs incurred during the primary hospitalization. cost-
effectiveness and cost-utility ratios were lower (i.e, economically be
tter) in the post surfactant era than in the pre-surfactant era (pre-s
urfactant vs post surfactant; $7040 vs $4040 per life year gained; $67
00 vs $5360 per quality-adjusted life year gained). Both ratios fell w
ith increasing birthweight. In contrast with the pre-surfactant era co
st-utility ratios were less favourable than cost-effectiveness ratios
in the post surfactant era With costs for long-term care of severely d
isabled children added, both cost ratios were higher in the post surfa
ctant era. Conclusion: The incremental cost during the primary hospita
lization of improving the outcome for ELBW infants has fallen in the p
ost surfactant era.