Lower extremity amputation prevention in Singapore: economic analysis of results

• Published in: Singapore medical journal Vol. 52; no. 9; pp. 662 - 668
• Main Authors: TAN, M. L. M, FENG, J, GORDOIS, A, WONG, E. S. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Singapore Singapore Medical Association 01.09.2011
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Amputation - economics; Angioplasty - economics; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Diabetes Complications - economics; Diseases of the peripheral vessels. Diseases of the vena cava. Miscellaneous; Economics, Hospital; Female; General aspects; Health Care Costs; Hospital Costs; Humans; Ischemia - pathology; Length of Stay; Lower Extremity - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Orthopedic surgery; Retrospective Studies; Singapore; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Treatment Outcome; Asia; Singapore; percutaneous angioplasty; Economic analysis; cost-effectiveness; limb salvage; Costs; Angioplasty; hospital cost savings; Instrumentation therapy; Cardiovascular disease; Lower limb ischemia; Instrumental dilatation; Percutaneous route; Vascular disease; Prevention; Surgical amputation; Surgery; Health economy; Limb; Tropical medicine; Hospital; Public health; Cost efficiency analysis; critical limb ischaemia
• ISSN: 0037-5675

The aim of the study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of the Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention (LEAP) strategy in comparison to standard clinical practice for treating patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI). A retrospective cost-effectiveness analysis of the LEAP programme relative to pre-LEAP practice was performed from the perspective of Singapore hospitals. The cost incorporated in the analysis included direct medical costs incurred during the admission. Outcomes included the number of amputations, number of deaths and length of hospital stay after the initial treatment. During the study period, the LEAP group had a lower amputation rate (29 percent versus 76 percent, p-value is 0.00001), lower related death rate (one percent versus 19 percent, p-value is 0.00001) and fewer in-hospital days per patient (17.8 days versus 23.16 days, p-value is 0.048) as compared to the standard clinical practice group. The implementation of the LEAP strategy generated cost savings of S$2,566 per patient during admission when compared with the pre-LEAP approach. The results were robust to variations in input parameters. The LEAP strategy dominated standard practice in the management of patients with diabetes mellitus and CLI. The implementation of the LEAP strategy significantly improved patient outcomes and reduced hospital costs.