Foley catheter vs. oral misoprostol to induce labour among hypertensive women in India: a cost-consequence analysis alongside a clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness and economic impact of two methods for induction of labour in hypertensive women, in low-resource settings. DESIGN: Cost-consequence analysis of a previously reported multicentre, parallel, open-label randomised trial. SETTING & POPULATION: A total of 602 women with a live fetus, aged ≥18 years requiring delivery for pre-eclampsia or hypertension, in two public hospitals in Nagpur, India. METHODS: We performed a formal economic evaluation alongside the INFORM clinical trial. Women were randomised to receive transcervical Foley catheterisation or oral misoprostol 25 mcg. Healthcare expenditure was calculated using a provider-side microcosting approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of vaginal this delivery within 24 hours of induction, healthcare expenditure per completed treatment episode. RESULTS: Induction with oral misoprostol resulted in a (mean difference) $20.6USD reduction in healthcare expenditure [95% CI (-) $123.59 (-) $72.49], and improved achievement of vaginal delivery within 24 hours of induction, mean difference 10% [95% CI (-2 to 17.9%), P = 0.016]. Oxytocin administration time was reduced by 135.3 minutes [95% CI (84.4-186.2 minutes), P < 0.01] and caesarean sections by 9.1% [95% CI (1.1-17%), P = 0.025] for those receiving oral misoprostol. Following probabilistic sensitivity analysis, oral misoprostol was cost-saving in 63% of 5,000 bootstrap replications and achieved superior rates of vaginal delivery, delivery within 24 hours of induction and vaginal delivery within 24 hours of induction in 98.7%, 90.7%, and 99.4% of bootstrap simulations. Based on univariate threshold analysis, the unit price of oral misoprostol 25 mcg could feasibly increase 31-fold from $0.24 to $7.50 per 25 mcg tablet and remain cost-saving. CONCLUSION: Compared to Foley catheterisation for the induction of high-risk hypertensive women, oral misoprostol improves rates of vaginal delivery within 24 hours of induction and may also reduce costs. Additional research performed in other low-resource settings is required to determine their relative cost-effectiveness. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Oral misoprostol less costly and more effective than Foley catheter for labour induction in hypertension.

Promoting health and reducing costs: a role for reform of self-monitoring of blood glucose provision within the National Health Service.

AIM: To determine the cost-effectiveness of all options for the self-monitoring of blood glucose funded by the National Health Service, providing guidance for disinvestment and testing the hypothesis that advanced meter features may justify higher prices. METHODS: Using data from the Health and Social Care Information Centre concerning all 8 340 700 self-monitoring of blood glucose-related prescriptions during 2013/2014, we conducted a cost-minimization analysis, considering both strip and lancet costs, including all clinically equivalent technologies for self-monitoring of blood glucose, as determined by the ability to meet ISO-15197:2013 guidelines for meter accuracy. RESULTS: A total of 56 glucose monitor, test strip and lancet combinations were identified, of which 38 met the required accuracy standards. Of these, the mean (range) net ingredient costs for test strips and lancets were £0.27 (£0.14-£0.32) and £0.04 (£0.02-£0.05), respectively, resulting in a weighted average of £0.28 (£0.18-£0.37) per test. Systems providing four or more advanced features were priced equal to those providing just one feature. A total of £12 m was invested in providing 42 million self-monitoring of blood glucose tests with systems that fail to meet acceptable accuracy standards, and efficiency savings of £23.2 m per annum are achievable if the National Health Service were to disinvest from technologies providing lesser functionality than available alternatives, but at a much higher price. CONCLUSION: The study uncovered considerable variation in the price paid by the National Health Service for self-monitoring of blood glucose, which could not be explained by the availability of advanced meter features. A standardized approach to self-monitoring of blood glucose prescribing could achieve significant efficiency savings for the National Health Service, whilst increasing overall utilisation and improving safety for those currently using systems that fail to meet acceptable standards for measurement accuracy.

The incidence and implications of cerebral palsy following potentially avoidable obstetric complications: a preliminary burden of disease study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of cerebral palsy attributable to adverse obstetric events, and estimate the lifetime mortality and morbidity expectations of these individuals relative to age-matched members of the UK general population. DESIGN: Simulation model. SETTING UK POPULATION: All projected live births during 2014. METHODS: Using published data regarding the incidence and aetiology of cerebral palsy, we simulated the outcomes of a hypothetical cohort of UK live births. Survival and quality of life (QoL) for those with cerebral palsy were compared with age-matched individuals representative of the UK general population, in order to estimate the number of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) lost following asphyxia-related cerebral palsy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of asphyxia-related cerebral palsy, QALYS, QoL, and survival. RESULTS: A total of 207 (95% CI 169-245) cases of asphyxia-related cerebral palsy were projected amongst UK children born during the year 2014, with approximately 15.2 QALYs lost per case. If these results held true in a real birth cohort, 3142 (95% CI 2321-3963) QALYs would be lost as a consequence of asphyxia-related cerebral palsy, a loss valued by the UK National Health Service at £62.9 m (95% CI £46.4-79.3 m). CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral palsy following intrapartum asphyxiation leads to significant reductions in QoL and survival; however, this may often be prevented. For those with GMFCS 1 and GMFCS 2 cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System), lifetime QALYs accrued largely resemble those experienced by the UK general population, whereas for GMFCS 3 and GMFCS 4 QALYs are reduced considerably, and are negative in the case of GMFCS 5.