Economic evaluation of prevention of cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery in diabetic patients: ESCRS PREMED study report 6.

PURPOSE: To investigate the cost-effectiveness of prophylactic treatments against cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery in diabetic patients.

SETTING

7 ophthalmology clinics in the Netherlands and Belgium.

DESIGN

Prospective trial-based cost-effectiveness analysis using data from a European multicenter randomized clinical trial.

METHODS

Diabetic patients (n = 163) undergoing uneventful cataract surgery were randomized to perioperative subconjunctival triamcinolone acetonide (n = 36), perioperative intravitreal bevacizumab (n = 36), combination treatment (n = 45), or no additional treatment (control group, n = 46). The cost analysis was performed from a healthcare perspective within a 12-week postoperative time horizon. The main effectiveness outcome was quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). The main cost-effectiveness outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER; cost per QALY).

RESULTS

The mean total healthcare costs and QALYs were as follows: triamcinolone group €1827 (U.S. dollars [$] 2295)/0.166; bevacizumab group €2050 ($2575)/0.144; combination group €2027 ($2546)/0.166; and control group €2041 ($2564)/0.156. Bevacizumab and control treatment were most costly and least effective. The ICER was €321 984 ($404 503) per QALY for the combination group compared with that of the triamcinolone group. Assuming the willingness-to-pay as €20 000 ($25 126) per QALY, the cost-effectiveness probability was 70% and 23% in the triamcinolone and combination groups, respectively. No patient who received triamcinolone developed clinically significant macular edema (CSME). A secondary cost-effectiveness analysis based on this outcome showed a clear preference for triamcinolone.

CONCLUSIONS

In diabetic patients, subconjunctival triamcinolone was effective in preventing CSME after cataract surgery. The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that triamcinolone is also cost-effective.