Budget-impact analysis on the restructuring of treatment for hemochromatosis patients in the Central Denmark Region
Author
Jensen, Mads Oliver
Term
4. term
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-08-04
Pages
33
Abstract
Hemochromatosis is an inherited condition in which the body absorbs too much iron. Without treatment, iron can build up in tissues and organs and lead to serious complications. The standard treatment in Denmark is regular therapeutic phlebotomy—removing blood to lower iron levels. In some countries, this care has been reorganized to be provided and managed by blood banks. We examined the economic impact of making a similar change in Denmark. We built a budget impact model using published evidence and input from clinicians at Aarhus University Hospital who treat people with hemochromatosis. The time horizon was five years, and the budget holder was the Central Denmark Region. The model indicated that moving care to blood banks would be cost-saving for the budget holder: about DKK 33,000 saved over five years for the hemochromatosis patients treated at Aarhus University Hospital, corresponding to a 5.6% reduction in treatment costs. Sensitivity analyses did not identify scenarios with negative budget consequences. Beyond costs, the change could bring non-monetary benefits, such as allowing patients to become blood donors through their treatment. Overall, the results suggest that reorganizing care to blood banks is a cost-saving alternative to current practice.
Hæmokromatose er en arvelig sygdom, hvor kroppen optager for meget jern. Uden behandling kan jernet ophobes i væv og organer og føre til alvorlige komplikationer. Standardbehandlingen i Danmark er regelmæssige terapeutiske blodtapninger (flebotomi), som sænker jernniveauet ved at tappe blod. I nogle lande er denne behandling flyttet til og organiseret af blodbanker. Vi undersøgte, hvad en tilsvarende omlægning ville betyde økonomisk i en dansk sammenhæng. Vi byggede en budgetkonsekvensmodel baseret på litteratur og input fra fagpersoner på Aarhus Universitetshospital, der behandler patienter med hæmokromatose. Tidshorisonten var fem år, og den budgetansvarlige enhed var Region Midtjylland. Modellen viste, at omlægningen var omkostningsbesparende for budgetholderen: ca. 33.000 kr. sparet over fem år for den aktuelle patientgruppe på Aarhus Universitetshospital, svarende til en reduktion på 5,6 % af behandlingsomkostningerne. Følsomhedsanalyser viste ikke scenarier med negative budgetkonsekvenser. Ud over de økonomiske besparelser kan omlægningen give ikke-monetære gevinster, fx at patienter kan blive bloddonorer gennem deres behandling. Samlet peger resultaterne på, at en flytning til blodbanker er et omkostningsbesparende alternativ til nuværende praksis.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]