Cost-effectiveness analysis of five procedures for great saphenous vein reflux in a Norwegian healthcare setting or societal setting

Objective: The aim of this work was to estimate cost-effectiveness of five common procedures for varicose vein surgery ( high ligation and stripping, radiofrequency ablation, endovenous laser ablation, steam vein sclerosis and cyanoacrylate glue) in a Norwegian setting from both a societal and a healthcare payer perspective. Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis using decision tree modelling. Methods: A structured literature search was conducted to estimate the clinical effectiveness and the rate of complications in the five methods. Data on costs and health-related quality of life associated with varicose vein disease were also collected. With the aid of an expert panel, a structured decision tree was developed. A 1-year perspective was modelled, and a variety of common complications were included. Monte Carlo simulation was used for probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Results: The laser ablation strategy was the most cost-effective option from a societal perspective, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €8448 compared to a no-treatment alternative, and had a 42% probability of being cost-effective using the Norwegian willingness-to-pay threshold of €59,880. From a healthcare payer perspective, however, the steam vein sclerosis strategy was the most cost-effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €4072 compared to a no-treatment alternative, and this strategy had a 50% probability of being cost-effective. Conclusion: Results from this study did depend upon the perspective chosen for analyses. Although recent endovenous surgical procedures (including laser ablation and steam vein sclerosis) provide clinically effective treatment for advanced, symptomatic varicose vein disease, availability of high-level data is currently limiting the cost-effectiveness analyses.