Economic evaluation of Cystic Fibrosis (CF): A cost of illness and cost effectiveness analysis of carrier screening
Key objective
To assess the cost effectiveness of CF carrier screening and estimate the lifetime cost of CF care
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common serious genetic disease in Caucasians. In this project we will (1) examine the cost effectiveness of alternative screening strategies to detect CF carriers and (2) estimate the health care costs associated with managing for patients with CF.
Cost-effectiveness of CF carrier screening
This project will undertake a cost effectiveness analysis of alternative CF carrier screening programs. The project aims to provide policy makers with economic evidence to enable rational resource allocation decisions regarding the potential implementation of carrier screening programs. Two systematic carriers screening programs (pre-natal and pre-conception) are compared against a more opportunistic cascade screening program.
Cost-of-illness
We use three waves of the CF Australia Registry Data (2003, 2004 and 2005) to estimate the transition probabilities of disease progression. Registry data was used to estimate annual mean and median cost depending on the age of the patient and the severity of their disease. Preliminary results indicate that costs vary significantly depending on age and severity of disease. Mean costs in the early years being substantially lower compared to the teenage years and young adult years. Overall, around 58% of costs are incurred in the inpatient setting, 29% on pharmaceuticals and the remainder on medical services, diagnostic tests and managing CF-related complications. The results provide economic (as well as clinical) grounds to ensure treatment is optimal and reduce the chance for the disease to progress. The results of this study can be used as part of future cost-effectiveness analysis of new treatments.
Preliminary results of this project are expected to be published in 2010.
Funding Source
NH&MRC Program Grant
CHERE staff
Jane Hall, Kees Van Gool, Richard Norman
Collaborators
John Massie1, Martin Delatycki1
1. Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne
