OBJECTIVES: To assess the economic impact of introducing into clinical practice in the UK the soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) to placental growth factor (PlGF) ratio test for guiding the management of pre-eclampsia. METHODS: We used an economic model estimating the incremental value of information, from a UK National Health Service payer's perspective, generated by the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test, compared with current diagnostic procedures, in guiding the management of women with suspected pre-eclampsia. The economic model estimated costs associated with the diagnosis and management of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women between 24 + 0 and 36 + 6 weeks' gestation, managed in either a 'test' scenario in which the sFlt-1/PlGF test is used in addition to current diagnostic procedures, or a 'no-test' scenario in which clinical decisions are based on current diagnostic procedures alone. Test characteristics and resource use were derived from PROGNOSIS, a non-interventional study in women presenting with clinical suspicion of pre-eclampsia. The main outcome measure from the economic model was the cost per patient per episode of care, from first suspicion of pre-eclampsia to birth. RESULTS: Introduction of the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test into clinical practice is expected to result in cost savings of £344 per patient compared with a no-test scenario. Savings are generated primarily through an improvement in diagnostic accuracy and subsequent reduction in unnecessary hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Introducing the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio test into clinical practice in the UK was shown to be cost-saving by reducing unnecessary hospitalization of women at low risk of developing pre-eclampsia. In addition, the test ensures that those women at higher risk are identified and managed appropriately. © 2016 Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Journal article
2016-12-01T00:00:00+00:00
48
765 - 771
6
cost-effectiveness, diagnosis, economic, hospitalization, model, pre-eclampsia, prediction, sFlt-1/PlGF, Biomarkers, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Female, Humans, Membrane Proteins, Models, Economic, Pre-Eclampsia, Pregnancy, Prospective Studies, United Kingdom, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1