Journal
PAEDIATRIC RESPIRATORY REVIEWS
Volume 14, Issue 2, Pages 128-129Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2012.12.006
Keywords
Cost-effectiveness; Quality-adjusted life years; Indication creep
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Preterm infants are at increased risk of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The monoclonal antibody palivizumab reduces the frequency of preterm infants being admitted to hospital with RSV infection. However, palivizumab is expensive, has to be given by intramuscular injection monthly for 5 months and has to be given prophylactically to 17 preterm children to prevent one hospital admission with RSV and to 59 children to prevent one intensive care admission. Cost-effectiveness analyses have not shown that palivizumab is cost-effective for any sub-group with sufficient certainty to recommend its public funding. Palivizumab will only be cost-effective if the price drops. Paying for palivizumab is an opportunity cost; the money could be spent better on other more cost-effective health care interventions. Palivizumab should not be prescribed for any preterm child unless it can be shown to be cost-effective in that situation. Crown Copyright (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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