Cost-effectiveness Analysis of the Bone-Anchored Hearing Device

Objective: To establish the cost-effectiveness of a bone-anchored hearing device (BAHD). To date, there has not been any formal economic analysis of this treatment. Study Design: A prospective cohort case-control analysis. Setting: Tertiary referral center, university hospital. Patients: Between April 2007 and June 2008, all adult patients undergoing their first BAHD were contacted and invited to take part in this study. Data of 70 patients were completed during the study period and were analyzed. Interventions: A health utility measure was made before and after the insertion of a BAHD to estimate the utility gain associated with this intervention. Main Outcome Measures: The cost and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gain for each patient was established, and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated. Results: The results of our analysis are that, compared with current standard care, the BAHD has an ICER of 17,610 pound (US $26,415) per QALY gained. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence will endorse a health intervention as cost-effective if the ICER is below 20,000 pound to 30,000 pound per QALY (US $30,000-45,000). Conclusion: This technology is likely to be cost-effective at the current thresholds used by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Therefore, this study suggests the BAHD may be a cost-effective method of auditory rehabilitation.