EE18 A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for High Versus Low Dose Caffeine for the Treatment of Apnea in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Caffeine is a first-line option for the neonatal intensive care management of apnea prematurity (AOP) in preterm infants. This first study literature to evaluate cost effectiveness off-label high dose (HD) caffeine versus approved standard lower (LD) treatment AOP neonates. From hospital perspective Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) Qatar, this was cost-effectiveness analysis based on conventional decision-analytic model that follows use and potential consequences HD maintenance 20 mg/kg/dose LD 10 simulated cohort neonates, until discharge. The clinical inputs were primarily published meta-analyses based, while locally extracted HMC. endpoint (success caffeine) survival with no apnea, successful extubation removal within 72 hours. can be or without adverse events. In contrast, failure discontinuation due severe tachycardia drug reaction, all-cause death, persistence. At base case model, run multivariate uncertainty probability inputs, using Monte Carlo simulation. With 0.236 (95% CI, 0.230-0.231) enhancement success rate, at QAR 14,084 13,916-14,251) added patient cost, ratio 61,500 55,480-67,520) over per additional success. One-way sensitivity analyses confirmed robustness outcome increased generalizability results. For AOP, Qatar willingness-to-pay threshold, seems cost-effective caffeine. supports recently increasing trend