Posters
The health/economic impacts of posterior capsule opacification in Finland comparing two single-piece intraocular lenses: a cost-consequence analysis
Poster Details
First Author: A.Grzybowski POLAND
Co Author(s): A. Aaronson R. Tuuminen
Abstract Details
Purpose:
Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the most common post-surgical complication of cataract surgery with the incidence ranging from <5% to as high as 50%. Clinically significant PCO is treated by Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. This treatment bears a cost and its provision can place a burden on resource constrained health care systems. The objective of this research was to estimate the health economic impact of PCO, according to the intraocular lens (IOL) choice (AcrySof® SN60WF, Alcon and Tecnis® ZCB00, Johnson & Johnson Vision) from both a hospital and the Finnish healthcare system perspective.
Setting:
The original study was carried out as a retrospective cohort study at the Ophthalmology Unit of Kymenlaakso Central Hospital, Kotka, Finland. This research adapts the findings of the original analysis to include an economic assessment which focuses on the reported Nd:YAG capsulotomy rates of the two single-piece acrylic IOLs.
Methods:
A cost-consequence model was developed comparing healthcare resource utilization and costs associated with PCO. Cumulative incidence of Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy at five years post-cataract surgery with SN60WF (11.5%) and ZCB00 (18.1%) from the RWE study findings, underpinned the analysis. The average number of annual cataract procedures at the study site was used for the hospital level analysis and Eurostat for the national estimate. The Nd:YAG procedure and associated additional consultation visit costs (0.5 preoperatively and 1.0 post-operatively) were assumed to be €150 and €95, respectively. An adjustment was made to account for 25% immediate sequential bilateral Nd:YAG procedures.
Results:
In the hospital level analysis, assuming 2,080 annual cataract procedures, AcrySof® SN60WF was associated with the reduction of 103 Nd:YAG procedures, 5 years post-cataract surgery compared to Tecnis® ZCB00. Extrapolating to the national level resulted with reduction of 2,969 Nd:YAG procedures. Translated into potential cost savings for the hospital and the Finnish healthcare system – estimates were €30,116 and €868,334. Moreover, assuming 30 minutes for the Nd:YAG laser appointment and associated consultations, time saved estimate was: 464 working days, extrapolating to the annual population of Finnish cataract patients.
Conclusions:
This economic analysis of real-world evidence outcomes highlights that the choice of IOL for cataract surgery, as a direct consequence of lower Nd:YAG capsulotomy rates - may translate into significant savings both financially and with respect to resource allocation for governmental hospitals and the tax-financed national healthcare system. Further research is warranted to estimate the incidence and costs associated with the complications of the Nd:YAG capsulotomy procedure.
Financial Disclosure:
None
