Incremental cost effectiveness of laser photocoagulation for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization.

OBJECTIVE To perform a patient preference-based, incremental cost-effectiveness analysis for laser treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. DESIGN Computer-based econometric modeling. METHODS The cost effectiveness of laser photocoagulation therapy was compared with the natural course of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization. The model applied long-term visual data from previous clinical trials, utility analysis (which reflects patient perceptions of quality of life associated with a health state), decision analysis with Markov modeling, and the economic principles of present value analysis with discounting to account for the time value of money. DATABASE Data from patients eligible for treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization obtained by researchers in the Macular Photocoagulation Study were used for the analysis. INTERVENTION Modeled laser therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovasacularization in patients with age-related macular degeneration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Cost per quality-adjusted life-year ($/QALY gained) associated with laser therapy. RESULTS Laser photocoagulation therapy for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization, as compared with no treatment, resulted in a mean gain of 0.257 QALYs per treated patient. Using a yearly discount rate of 3% to account for the time value of money and inflation, the resultant $/QALY gained was $5629. Sensitivity analysis used in the cost-effectiveness analysis resulted in a $/QALY gained of $4974 with no gained discount rate and $11,633 with a yearly discount rate of 10%. CONCLUSIONS The incremental expense of laser therapy for the treatment of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization appears to be highly cost effective. The result, which takes into account patient preference-based utility data, compares quite favorably with other interventional therapies across different medical specialties.