Cost-effectiveness of bronchial thermoplasty in commercially-insured patients with poorly controlled, severe, persistent asthma

• Published in: Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research Vol. 15; no. 2; p. 357
• Main Authors: Cangelosi, Michael J, Ortendahl, Jesse D, Meckley, Lisa M, Bentley, Tanya G K, Anene, Ayanna M, Shriner, Kelly M, Fox, John
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.04.2015
• Subjects: Asthma - economics; Asthma - physiopathology; Asthma - therapy; Bronchoscopy - economics; Bronchoscopy - methods; Catheter Ablation - economics; Catheter Ablation - methods; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Humans; Markov Chains; Models, Economic; Quality of Life; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Severity of Illness Index; asthma; cost–effectiveness; bronchial thermoplasty; respiratory disease; bronchoscopy
• ISSN: 1744-8379
• DOI: 10.1586/14737167.2015.978292

We examined the cost-effectiveness of treating poorly controlled, severe, persistent asthma patients with bronchial thermoplasty (BT), a novel technology that uses thermal energy to reduce airway smooth muscle mass, with 5-year outcome data demonstrating a durable reduction in asthma exacerbations. We conducted a model-based cost-effectiveness analysis assessing 5-year healthcare utilization, patient quality of life and adverse events. We utilized Markov modeling to estimate the costs and quality-of-life impact of BT compared with high-dose combination therapy among poorly controlled, severe, persistent asthma patients: those requiring high-dose combination therapy and having experienced an asthma exacerbation-related ER visit in the past year. The cost-effectiveness of BT was US$5495 per quality-adjusted life year; and approximately 22% of sensitivity analysis iterations estimated BT to reduce costs and increase quality of life. BT is a cost-effective treatment option for patients with poorly controlled, severe, persistent asthma.