Cost-effectiveness and budget impact of adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy for diabetic foot ulcers

Background: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has been proposed as an adjunct tostandard methods of care for diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). Its use may decrease the risk ofinfection and lower extremity amputations (LEAs). As part of a Canadian assessment, weestimated the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of HBOT in this application.Methods: We developed a decision model comparing adjunctive HBOT with standardcare alone. The population was a 65-year-old cohort with DFU. The time horizon was 12years taken from a Ministry of Health perspective. The health states were a healed woundwith or without a minor LEA, an unhealed wound with no related surgery, and a major LEA.Efficacy data were based on outcomes reported in studies included in a literature review.Cost and capacity needs for treating DFU patients in Canada were estimated usingprevalence data from the literature, and cost and utilization data from government records.Results: The 12-year cost for patients receiving HBOT was CND$40,695 compared withCND$49,786 for standard care alone. Outcomes were 3.64 quality-adjusted life-years(QALYs) for those receiving HBOT and 3.01 QALYs for controls. Estimated cost to treat allprevalent DFU cases in Canada was CND$14.4–19.7 million/year over 4 years. Ifseven-person HBOT chambers were used, a further nineteen to thirty-five machineswould be required nationally.Conclusions: Adjunctive HBOT for DFU is cost-effective compared with standard care.Additional HBOT capacity would be needed if it were to be adopted as the standard ofcare throughout Canada