Cost-effectiveness of neuromuscular ultrasound in focal neuropathies

Ross Mandeville, Arvin Wali, Charlie Park, Erik Groessl, Francis O Walker, Michael S Cartwright, Ross Mandeville, Arvin Wali, Charlie Park, Erik Groessl, Francis O Walker, Michael S Cartwright

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) for the evaluation of focal neuropathies.

Methods: A prior prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial demonstrated that NMUS, when added to electrodiagnostic testing, resulted in improved clinical outcomes after 6 months of follow-up. From this study, we abstracted quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) from the 36-item Short Form Health Survey and entered this health-utility estimate into a mixed trial and model-based cost-effectiveness analysis from the societal perspective. Costs of intervention (NMUS) were estimated from Medicare payment rates for Current Procedural Terminology codes. Health care use was otherwise estimated to be equal, but sensitivity analyses further examined this and other key assumptions. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was used as the primary outcome with a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 per QALY.

Results: The predicted mean health outcome associated with use of NMUS was 0.079 QALY, and the mean cost was $37, resulting in an ICER of $463 per QALY. Results and conclusions remained robust across all sensitivity analyses, including variations in time horizon, initial distribution of health states, costs, and effectiveness.

Conclusions: From a societal perspective, the addition of NMUS to electrodiagnostic testing when evaluating a focal neuropathy is cost-effective. A study of longer follow-up incorporating total health care use would further quantify the value of NMUS.

Clinicaltrialsgov identifier: NCT01394822.

© 2019 American Academy of Neurology.

Figures

Figure 1. Effectiveness sensitivity analysis
Figure 1. Effectiveness sensitivity analysis
ICER = incremental cost-effectiveness ratio; QALY = quality-adjusted life-year.
Figure 2. Cost and effectiveness 2-way sensitivity…
Figure 2. Cost and effectiveness 2-way sensitivity analysis
QALY = quality-adjusted life-year.

Source: PubMed

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