What Researchers Did
Researchers estimated the cost-effectiveness of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy for diabetic ulcers using a decision tree model for a hypothetical cohort of 1,000 patients.
What They Found
The incremental cost per additional quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained was $27,310 at year 1, decreasing to $5,166 at year 5, and $2,255 at year 12. This suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy for diabetic ulcers is cost-effective, especially over the long term.
What This Means for Canadian Patients
This study suggests that hyperbaric oxygen therapy could be a cost-effective treatment option for severe diabetic foot ulcers, potentially improving long-term outcomes for patients. If implemented, this therapy could offer a valuable addition to current treatment protocols, reducing healthcare costs and improving quality of life over time.
Canadian Relevance
This study has no direct Canadian connection.
Study Limitations
The study's results are limited by the quality and scope of the clinical studies used to inform the cost-effectiveness estimation.