Cost Effectiveness of Venous Leg Ulcer Healing Using Muscle Pump Activation.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of treating patients with Venous Leg Ulcers (VLUs) with the Muscle Pump Activation device (MPA, geko) in Canada. This is a cost-effectiveness analysis of the treatment of patients with VLUs, using MPA for 4 weeks in addition to standard of care compression therapy (SOC), compared to SOC alone using Canadian costs of VLU treatment. The authors determined the Canadian costs for each visit for a patient with a VLU to have their dressings performed at a nursing clinic. The total costs of treatment were determined based on healing rates from a randomized controlled trial from Wales that demonstrated a significant improvement in the healing of VLUs when MPA was used for 4 weeks in addition to SOC, compared to SOC alone. The cost per visit to a nursing clinic for the treatment of a VLU was estimated to be $109.71 CAD and dressing frequency was estimated to be an average of every 2.5 days. Using projected healing rates over a 12-month period based on the UK paper, the model indicated that treatment with MPA resulted in a cost savings of $983.61 CAD per patient. The average increase in ulcer free days was 56.6 days per patient. The Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) identified a saving of $17.38 per ulcer free day. This model based on Canadian costs resulted in faster healing of VLUs and a reduced average Direct Wound Care Cost of $983.61 per patient for the whole of their ulcer treatment when the MPA is used for 4 weeks in addition to SOC. This treatment has the potential for patient benefit as well as significant cost savings for the Canadian Health Care system.