O-1 ECONOMIC IMPACT OF LONG-TERM ALBUMIN INFUSIONS IN PATIENTS WITH DECOMPENSATED CIRRHOSIS AND UNCOMPLICATED ASCITES FROM THE BRAZILIAN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVES

Introduction and Objectives

Liver cirrhosis is among the most common liver-related causes of death and is associated with severe complications that entail a major burden for patients and healthcare systems. The ANSWER trial showed that long-term human albumin infusions (LTA) (40g twice/week for two weeks followed by 40g/week for up to 18 months) added to standard medical treatment (SMT) managed to significantly reduce mortality and disease-related complications in patients with cirrhosis and uncomplicated ascites. Assess the economic impact of implementing LTA following the ANSWER protocol in patients with cirrhosis and uncomplicated ascites in Brazil from the public (SUS) and private (ANS) healthcare systems perspectives.

Materials and Methods

Cost/patient/year was calculated for patients treated with LTA+SMT and compared to those treated with SMT only. Incidence of clinical complications and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) were gathered from the ANSWER trial. Pharmacological costs (spironolactone, furosemide, human albumin) were gathered from the “Health Care Price Bank” and CMED. Costs of clinical complications (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, other bacterial infections, hepatic encephalopathy, renal dysfunction, hepatorenal syndrome, refractory ascites) and other HCRU (LTA administration visit, large volume paracentesis, hospitalizations) were gathered from the literature and ANS. All costs were transformed to 2021 Brazilian Reals (R$). A univariate sensitivity analysis was performed by applying a 20% increase/decrease to all variables.

Results

The overall cost for patients treated with LTA+SMT was R$118,759 and R$189,675 lower than that for patients treated with SMT only for SUS and ANS, respectively. The additional cost of LTA (R$30,767 and R$59,897, respectively) was compensated by a reduction in complications and HCRU (R$149,526 and R$249,572, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that should the clinical outcomes of the ANSWER trial translate to real-world effectiveness, LTA administration to patients with cirrhosis and uncomplicated ascites may lead to cost savings for the SUS and ANS in Brazil.