Cost-effectiveness of paediatric surgery: an economic evaluation of World Paediatric Project surgical interventions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2002–2019)

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the cost-effectiveness of six types of surgical interventions as part of a sustained paediatric surgical programme in St.Vincent and the Grenadines from 2002 to 2019.Design In this economic model, six paediatric surgical interventions (ophthalmic, o...

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Main Authors: Carrie B Dolan, Justice Nonvignon, Samuel A Agyemang, Brian Clare, Charles Coleman, Bill Richter, Emily Robertson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-12-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e050286.full
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author Carrie B Dolan
Justice Nonvignon
Samuel A Agyemang
Brian Clare
Charles Coleman
Bill Richter
Emily Robertson
author_facet Carrie B Dolan
Justice Nonvignon
Samuel A Agyemang
Brian Clare
Charles Coleman
Bill Richter
Emily Robertson
author_sort Carrie B Dolan
collection DOAJ
description Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the cost-effectiveness of six types of surgical interventions as part of a sustained paediatric surgical programme in St.Vincent and the Grenadines from 2002 to 2019.Design In this economic model, six paediatric surgical interventions (ophthalmic, orthopaedic, plastic, general, urology, neurosurgery) were compared with no surgery in a deterministic cost-effectiveness model. We assessed health benefits as averted disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Costs were included from the programme perspective and measured using standard micro-costing methods. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for each type of surgical intervention. Interventions with ICERs of <50% of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita were considered cost-effective. Costs are reported in 2019 US$. Univariate sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the effect of uncertainty.Results The average cost per procedure was US$16 685 (range: US$9791.78–US$72 845.76). The cumulative discounted 18-year health impact was 5815 DALYs averted with a cost per DALY averted of US$2622. Most paediatric surgical interventions were cost-effective, yielding cost per DALY estimates less than 50% of GDP per capita of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. When undiscounted, only orthopaedic surgeries had cost per DALY more than 50% GDP per capita. When considering discounting, orthopaedic and urology surgeries exceeded the adopted threshold for cost-effectiveness.Conclusions We found that short-term, recurrent surgical interventions could yield substantial economic benefits in this limited resource setting. This research indicates that investment in paediatric surgical interventions is cost-effective for the majority of specialties. These findings are of clinical significance given the large burden of disease attributable to surgically treatable diseases. This work demonstrates that scaling up dedicated surgical programmes for children is a cost-effective and essential component to improve paediatric health.
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spelling doaj-art-e9d38973813b447d88d454a22d33a3c32024-12-09T21:10:07ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552021-12-01111210.1136/bmjopen-2021-050286Cost-effectiveness of paediatric surgery: an economic evaluation of World Paediatric Project surgical interventions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2002–2019)Carrie B Dolan0Justice Nonvignon1Samuel A Agyemang2Brian Clare3Charles Coleman4Bill Richter5Emily Robertson6Department of Health Sciences, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USASchool of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, GhanaSchool of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, GhanaWorld Pediatric Project, Richmond, Virginia, USADepartment of Health Sciences, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USAWorld Pediatric Project, Richmond, Virginia, USAWorld Pediatric Project, Richmond, Virginia, USAObjectives The purpose of this study is to examine the cost-effectiveness of six types of surgical interventions as part of a sustained paediatric surgical programme in St.Vincent and the Grenadines from 2002 to 2019.Design In this economic model, six paediatric surgical interventions (ophthalmic, orthopaedic, plastic, general, urology, neurosurgery) were compared with no surgery in a deterministic cost-effectiveness model. We assessed health benefits as averted disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs). Costs were included from the programme perspective and measured using standard micro-costing methods. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for each type of surgical intervention. Interventions with ICERs of <50% of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita were considered cost-effective. Costs are reported in 2019 US$. Univariate sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the effect of uncertainty.Results The average cost per procedure was US$16 685 (range: US$9791.78–US$72 845.76). The cumulative discounted 18-year health impact was 5815 DALYs averted with a cost per DALY averted of US$2622. Most paediatric surgical interventions were cost-effective, yielding cost per DALY estimates less than 50% of GDP per capita of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. When undiscounted, only orthopaedic surgeries had cost per DALY more than 50% GDP per capita. When considering discounting, orthopaedic and urology surgeries exceeded the adopted threshold for cost-effectiveness.Conclusions We found that short-term, recurrent surgical interventions could yield substantial economic benefits in this limited resource setting. This research indicates that investment in paediatric surgical interventions is cost-effective for the majority of specialties. These findings are of clinical significance given the large burden of disease attributable to surgically treatable diseases. This work demonstrates that scaling up dedicated surgical programmes for children is a cost-effective and essential component to improve paediatric health.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e050286.full
spellingShingle Carrie B Dolan
Justice Nonvignon
Samuel A Agyemang
Brian Clare
Charles Coleman
Bill Richter
Emily Robertson
Cost-effectiveness of paediatric surgery: an economic evaluation of World Paediatric Project surgical interventions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2002–2019)
BMJ Open
title Cost-effectiveness of paediatric surgery: an economic evaluation of World Paediatric Project surgical interventions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2002–2019)
title_full Cost-effectiveness of paediatric surgery: an economic evaluation of World Paediatric Project surgical interventions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2002–2019)
title_fullStr Cost-effectiveness of paediatric surgery: an economic evaluation of World Paediatric Project surgical interventions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2002–2019)
title_full_unstemmed Cost-effectiveness of paediatric surgery: an economic evaluation of World Paediatric Project surgical interventions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2002–2019)
title_short Cost-effectiveness of paediatric surgery: an economic evaluation of World Paediatric Project surgical interventions in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (2002–2019)
title_sort cost effectiveness of paediatric surgery an economic evaluation of world paediatric project surgical interventions in st vincent and the grenadines 2002 2019
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e050286.full
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