Cost–utility analysis of a palliative care program in Colombia

  • Luisa Rodríguez-Campos
  • , Paul Andres Rodriguez-Lesmes
  • , Analhi Palomino Cancino
  • , Iris del Valle Díaz
  • , Luis Fernando Gamboa
  • , Andrea Castillo Niuman
  • , Juan Sebastián Salas
  • , Gabriela Sarmiento
  • , Jorge Martínez-Bernal
  • , Abel E. González-Vélez

Research output: Contribution to JournalResearch Articlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The economic assessment of health care models in palliative care promotes their global development. The purpose of the study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of a palliative care program (named Contigo) with that of conventional care from the perspective of a health benefit plan administrator company, Sanitas, in Colombia.

METHODS: The incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR) and the incremental net monetary benefit (INMB) were estimated using micro-costing in a retrospective, analytical cross-sectional study on the care of terminally ill patients enrolled in a palliative care program. A 6-month time horizon prior to death was used. The EQ-5D-3 L questionnaire (EQ-5D-3 L) and the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire (MQOL) were used to measure the quality of life.

RESULTS: The study included 43 patients managed within the program and 16 patients who received conventional medical management. The program was less expensive than the conventional practice (difference of 1,924.35 US dollars (USD), P = 0.18). When compared to the last 15 days, there is a higher perception of quality of life, which yielded 0.25 in the EQ-5D-3 L (p < 0.01) and 1.55 in the MQOL (P < 0.01). The ICUR was negative and the INMB was positive.

CONCLUSION: Because the Contigo program reduces costs while improving quality of life, it is considered to be net cost-saving and a model with value in health care. Greater availability of palliative care programs, such as Contigo, in Colombia can help reduce existing gaps in access to universal palliative care health coverage, resulting in more cost-effective care.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number165
Pages (from-to)165
JournalBMC Palliative Care
Volume23
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 6 2024

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)

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