Economic evaluation of palivizumab in children with congenital heart disease: a Canadian perspective

A Historical Perspective on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Prevention: A Journey Spanning Over Half a Century From the Setback of an Inactive Vaccine Candidate to the Success of Passive Immunization Strategy

The efforts to prevent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infants span over half a century. RSV vaccine development began in the 1960s, and it confronted a significant disappointment after testing a formalin-inactivated RSV (FI RSV) vaccine candidate. This inactivated RSV vaccine was not protective. A large number of the vaccinated RSV-naive children, when subsequently exposed to natural RSV infection from wild-type virus in the community, developed severe lung inflammation termed enhanced respiratory disease. This resulted in a halt in RSV vaccine development. In the 1990s, attention turned to the potential for passive protection against severe RSV disease with immunoglobulin administration. This led to studies on using standard intravenous immunoglobulins in high-risk infants, followed by high-titer RSV immunoglobulin preparation and, subsequently, the development of RSV monoclonal antibodies. Over the past 25 years, palivizumab has been recognized as a safe and effective monoclonal antibody as a prevention strategy for RSV in high-risk children. Its high cost and need for monthly administration, however, has hindered its use to ~2% of the birth cohort, neglecting the vast majority of newborns, including healthy full-term infants who comprise the largest portion of RSV hospitalizations and the greatest part of the burden of RSV disease. Still these efforts, helped pave the way for the present advances in RSV prevention that hold promise for mitigating severe RSV disease for all infants.

Cost-utility analysis of palivizumab for preventing respiratory syncytial virus in preterm neonates and infants in Colombia

AIM

Palivizumab has proven effective in reducing hospitalizations, preventing severe illness, improving health outcomes, and reducing healthcare costs for infants at risk of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. We aim to assess the value of palivizumab in preventing RSV infection in high-risk infants in Colombia, where RSV poses a significant threat, causing severe respiratory illness and hospitalizations.

METHODS

We conducted a decision tree analysis to compare five doses of palivizumab with no palivizumab. The study considered three population groups: preterm neonates (≤ 35 weeks gestational age), infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and infants with hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease (CHD). We obtained clinical efficacy data from IMpact-RSV and Cardiac Synagis trials, while we derived neonatal hospitalization risks from the SENTINEL-1 study. We based hospitalization and recurrent wheezing management costs on Colombian analyses and validated them by experts. We estimated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and performed 1,000 Monte Carlo simulations for probabilistic sensitivity analyses.

RESULTS

Palivizumab is a dominant strategy for preventing RSV infection in preterm neonates and infants with BPD and CHD. Its high efficacy (78% in preventing RSV in preterm infants), the substantial risk of illness and hospitalization, and the high costs associated with hospitalization, particularly in neonatal intensive care settings, support this finding. The scatter plots and willingness-to-pay curves align with these results.

CONCLUSION

Palivizumab is a cost-saving strategy in Colombia, effectively preventing RSV infection in preterm neonates and infants with BPD and CHD by reducing hospitalizations and lowering healthcare costs.

Palivizumab for preventing severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in children

BACKGROUND

Respiratory viruses are the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) and hospitalisation in infants and young children. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the main infectious agent in this population. Palivizumab is administered intramuscularly every month during five months in the first RSV season to prevent serious RSV LRTI in children. Given its high cost, it is essential to know if palivizumab continues to be effective in preventing severe RSV disease in children.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of palivizumab for preventing severe RSV infection in children.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, three other databases and two trials registers to 14 October 2021, together with reference checking, citation searching and contact with study authors to identify additional studies. We searched Embase to October 2020, as we did not have access to this database for 2021.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), including cluster-RCTs, comparing palivizumab given at a dose of 15 mg/kg once a month (maximum five doses) with placebo, no intervention or standard care in children 0 to 24 months of age from both genders, regardless of RSV infection history.  DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We used Cochrane's Screen4Me workflow to help assess the search results. Two review authors screened studies for selection, assessed risk of bias and extracted data. We used standard Cochrane methods. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of the evidence. The primary outcomes were hospitalisation due to RSV infection, all-cause mortality and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were hospitalisation due to respiratory-related illness, length of hospital stay, RSV infection, number of wheezing days, days of supplemental oxygen, intensive care unit length of stay and mechanical ventilation days.

MAIN RESULTS

We included five studies with  a total of 3343 participants. All studies were parallel RCTs, assessing the effects of 15 mg/kg of palivizumab every month up to five months compared to placebo or no intervention in an outpatient setting, although one study also included hospitalised infants. Most of the included studies were conducted in children with a high risk of RSV infection due to comorbidities like bronchopulmonary dysplasia and congenital heart disease. The risk of bias of outcomes across all studies was similar and predominately low.  Palivizumab reduces hospitalisation due to RSV infection at two years' follow-up (risk ratio (RR) 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30 to 0.64; 5 studies, 3343 participants; high certainty evidence). Based on 98 hospitalisations per 1000 participants in the placebo group, this corresponds to 43 (29 to 62) per 1000 participants in the palivizumab group. Palivizumab probably results in little to no difference in mortality at two years' follow-up (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.42 to 1.15; 5 studies, 3343 participants; moderate certainty evidence). Based on 23 deaths per 1000 participants in the placebo group, this corresponds to 16 (10 to 27) per 1000 participants in the palivizumab group. Palivizumab probably results in little to no difference in adverse events at 150 days' follow-up (RR 1.09, 95% CI 0.85 to 1.39; 3 studies, 2831 participants; moderate certainty evidence). Based on 84 cases per 1000 participants in the placebo group, this corresponds to 91 (71 to 117) per 1000 participants in the palivizumab group. Palivizumab probably results in a slight reduction in hospitalisation due to respiratory-related illness at two years' follow-up (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.97; 5 studies, 3343 participants; moderate certainty evidence). Palivizumab may result in a large reduction in RSV infection at two years' follow-up (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.55; 3 studies, 554 participants; low certainty evidence). Based on 195 cases of RSV infection per 1000 participants in the placebo group, this corresponds to 64 (39 to 107) per 1000 participants in the palivizumab group. Palivizumab also reduces the number of wheezing days at one year's follow-up (RR 0.39, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.44; 1 study, 429 participants; high certainty evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

The available evidence suggests that prophylaxis with palivizumab reduces hospitalisation due to RSV infection and results in little to no difference in mortality or adverse events. Moreover, palivizumab results in a slight reduction in hospitalisation due to respiratory-related illness and may result in a large reduction in RSV infections. Palivizumab also reduces the number of wheezing days. These results may be applicable to children with a high risk of RSV infection due to comorbidities. Further research is needed to establish the effect of palivizumab on children with other comorbidities known as risk factors for severe RSV disease (e.g. immune deficiencies) and other social determinants of the disease, including children living in low- and middle-income countries, tropical regions, children lacking breastfeeding, living in poverty, or members of families in overcrowded situations.

Health care costs of hospitalization of young children for respiratory syncytial virus infections: a population-based matched cohort study

BACKGROUND

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection poses a substantial clinical burden among infants and young children. We sought to determine the health care costs of hospitalizations attributable to RSV in Ontario, Canada, from the health care payer perspective.

METHODS

For this population-based matched cohort study, we identified children younger than 24 months who were or were not hospitalized with RSV infections in 2006-2016. We performed a cost-of-illness analysis using linked administrative health data, with subjects stratified by gestational age and congenital heart disease, and propensity score-matched on established risk factors. The primary outcome was attributable health care costs per patient, reflecting the difference in direct medical costs between the groups, calculated to 12 months postdischarge in 2020 Canadian dollars.

RESULTS

We identified 14 608 RSV-infected children, matched to 72 040 controls. The adjusted attributable cost of hospitalized RSV was $134 931 900 over 10 years, or $9240 per patient (95% confidence interval [CI] $8790-$9690). Health care costs escalated 3 days before hospitalization, and persisted up to 12 months after discharge. Increased costs were associated with major comorbidities, but not extreme premature birth. The highest mean attributable cost per patient was in the presence of hemodynamically significant heart disease ($60 110, 95% CI $26 700-$93 060). Infants born at 36-43 weeks' gestation constituted the greatest overall cost burden at $117 886 720.

INTERPRETATION

Although the greatest direct medical costs per patient hospitalized with RSV infection are among children with cardiac disease, the greatest overall cost burden is from children born at or near term, who are not targeted by current prophylaxis strategies. The substantial attributable health care costs of RSV can inform cost-effectiveness analyses of novel RSV vaccines and prioritization of health care resources.

Inhibitory Effect of Sargassum fusiforme and Its Components on Replication of Respiratory Syncytial Virus In Vitro and In Vivo

Sargassum fusiforme, a plant used as a medicine and food, is regarded as a marine vegetable and health supplement to improve life expectancy. Here, we demonstrate that S. fusiforme extract (SFE) has antiviral effects against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in vitro and in vivo mouse model. Treatment of HEp2 cells with a non-cytotoxic concentration of SFE significantly reduced RSV replication, RSV-induced cell death, RSV gene transcription, RSV protein synthesis, and syncytium formation. Moreover, oral inoculation of SFE significantly improved RSV clearance from the lungs of BALB/c mice. Interestingly, the phenolic compounds eicosane, docosane, and tetracosane were identified as active components of SFE. Treatment with a non-cytotoxic concentration of these three components elicited similar antiviral effects against RSV infection as SFE in vitro. Together, these results suggest that SFE and its potential components are a promising natural antiviral agent candidate against RSV infection.

Cost-effectiveness of palivizumab in infants with congenital heart disease: a Swedish perspective

Background

Infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) have an increased risk of morbidity and mortality during a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of palivizumab as RSV-prophylaxis among infants with CHD, including the effect of delayed heart surgery and asthma.

Methods

A simulation model with data from the literature and health care authorities including costs and utilities was developed to estimate costs and health effects over a lifetime for a cohort of CHD infants receiving palivizumab compared to no RSV-prophylaxis.

Results

The prophylaxis treatment incurred a cost of 3664 EUR per treated infant. However, due to cost-savings from primarily avoiding hospitalizations (5145 EUR/treated infant) and avoiding heart complications due to delayed heart surgery (2082 EUR/treated infant), the RSV-prophylaxis treatment resulted in a total cost-saving of 3833 EUR per treated infant. At the same time, the prophylaxis-treated cohort accumulated more life-years and higher quality of life than the non-prophylaxis cohort.

Conclusion

This study confirms that RSV-prophylaxis in severe CHD infants less than one year of age is cost beneficial. Avoiding delayed heart surgeries is an important benefit of prophylaxis and should be taken into consideration.

Cost-effectiveness of Palivizumab for Respiratory Syncytial Virus: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Palivizumab prophylaxis is used as passive immunization for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). However, because of its high cost, the value of this intervention is unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To systematically review the cost-effectiveness of palivizumab prophylaxis compared with no prophylaxis in infants <24 months of age.

DATA SOURCES

Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Library up to August 2018.

STUDY SELECTION

Two reviewers independently screened results to include economic evaluations conducted between 2000 and 2018 from Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries.

DATA EXTRACTION

Two reviewers independently extracted outcomes. Quality appraisal was completed by using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. Costs were adjusted to 2017 US dollars.

RESULTS

We identified 28 economic evaluations (20 cost-utility analyses and 8 cost-effectiveness analyses); most were from the United States (n = 6) and Canada (n = 5). Study quality was high; 23 studies met >80% of the Joanna Briggs Institute criteria. Palivizumab prophylaxis ranged from a dominant strategy to having an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $2 526 203 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) depending on study perspective and targeted population. From the payer perspective, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for preterm infants (29-35 weeks' gestational age) was between $5188 and $791 265 per QALY, with 90% of estimates <$50 000 per QALY. Influential parameters were RSV hospitalization reduction rates, palivizumab cost, and discount rate.

LIMITATIONS

Model design heterogeneity, model parameters, and study settings were barriers to definitive conclusions on palivizumab's economic value.

CONCLUSIONS

Palivizumab as RSV prophylaxis was considered cost-effective in prematurely born infants, infants with lung complications, and infants from remote communities.

Should we use Palivizumab immunoprophylaxis for infants against respiratory syncytial virus? - a cost-utility analysis

BACKGROUND

Passive immunization against RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is given in most western countries (including Israel) to infants of high risk groups such as premature babies, and infants with Congenital Heart Disease or Congenital Lung Disease. However, immunoprophylaxis costs are extremely high ($2800-$4200 per infant). Using cost-utility analysis criteria, we evaluate whether it is justified to expand, continue or restrict nationwide immunoprophylaxis using palivizumab of high risk infants against RSV.

METHODS

Epidemiological, demographic, health service utilisation and economic data were integrated from primary (National Hospitalization Data, etc.) and secondary data sources (ie: from published articles) into a spread-sheet to calculate the cost per averted disability-adjusted life year (DALY) of vaccinating various infant risk groups. Costs of intervention included antibody plus administration costs. Treatment savings and DALYs averted were estimated from applying vaccine efficacy data to relative risks of being hospitalised and treated for RSV, including possible long-term sequelae like asthma and wheezing.

RESULTS

For all the groups RSV immunoprophylaxis is clearly not cost effective as its cost per averted DALY exceeds the $105,986 guideline representing thrice the per capita Gross Domestic Product. Vaccine price would have to fall by 48.1% in order to justify vaccinating Congenital Heart Disease or Congenital Lung Disease risk groups respectively on pure cost-effectiveness grounds. For premature babies of < 29 weeks, 29-32 and 33-36 weeks gestation, decreases of 36.8%, 54.5% and 83.3% respectively in vaccine price are required.

CONCLUSIONS

Based solely on cost-utility analysis, at current price levels it is difficult to justify the current indications for passive vaccination with Palivizumab against RSV. However, if the manufacturers would reduce the price by 54.5% then it would be cost-effective to vaccinate the Congenital Heart Disease or Congenital Lung Disease risk groups as well as premature babies born before the 33rd week of gestation.

Respiratory virus prophylaxis in congenital heart disease

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections and causes up to 200,000 infant deaths a year worldwide. The average rate of hospitalization for severe RSV infection is 5 per 1000 children, and the rate is three-times higher in those with congenital heart disease (CHD). Palivizumab, a monoclonal antibody, reduces hospitalization rates and intensive care admissions. It is used prophylactically and is administered as monthly doses during the RSV season. Hemodynamically unstable CHD is the most susceptible CHD to a severe episode of RSV infection. This review explores current evidence surrounding therapies, patterns of infection and identifies groups which may still be vulnerable to severe RSV infection.

Palivizumab in the prevention of severe respiratory syncytial virus infection in children with congenital heart disease; a novel cost-utility modeling study reflecting evidence-based clinical pathways in Spain

BACKGROUND

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection remains one of the major reasons of re-hospitalization among children with congenital heart disease (CHD). This study estimated the cost-effectiveness of palivizumab prophylaxis versus placebo, in Spain, from the societal perspective, using a novel cost-effectiveness model reflecting evidence-based clinical pathways.

METHODS

A decision-analytic model, combining a decision tree structure in the first year and a Markov structure in later years, was constructed to evaluate the benefits and costs associated with palivizumab versus no prophylaxis among children with CHD. In the first year of the model, children were at risk of mild (i.e. medically attended, MA-RSV) and severe (hospitalized, RSV-H) RSV infection. The impact of delayed corrective CHD surgery due to RSV infection and the consequence of performed surgery despite severe infection were considered. In later years, patients were at risk of developing asthma and allergic sensitization as sequelae of RSV infection. Input data for the model were derived from the pivotal clinical trial and systematic literature reviews. Indirect costs included parental absence from work and nosocomial infections. In agreement with Spanish guidelines, costs and effects were discounted at 3%.

RESULTS

Over a lifetime horizon, palivizumab prophylaxis yielded 0.11 and 0.07 additional quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and life years (LYs), respectively, at additional costs of € 1,693, resulting in an ICER of € 15,748 per QALY gained and € 24,936 per LY gained. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the probability of palivizumab prophylaxis being cost-effective at a € 30,000 per QALY threshold was 92.7%. The ICER remained below this threshold for most extreme scenario analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

The model demonstrated that palivizumab prophylaxis results in more QALYs than no prophylaxis in children with CHD. Palivizumab prophylaxis was shown to be a cost-effective health care intervention according to the commonly accepted standards of cost-effectiveness in Spain (ICER below the threshold of € 30,000 per QALY).

Cost-effectiveness of palivizumab compared to no prophylaxis in term infants residing in the Canadian Arctic

BACKGROUND

Hospital admissions for respiratory syncytial virus infection result in large health expenditures for Inuit infants. Palivizumab has been shown to be highly effective in reducing such admissions in preterm Inuit infants. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis estimating the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for palivizumab prophylaxis per admission related to respiratory syncytial virus avoided in healthy term infants across the Canadian Arctic.

METHODS

We compared universal palivizumab prophylaxis in term infants less than 6 months of age to no prophylaxis in 8 Arctic regions: the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Nunavut without Iqaluit, the 3 subregions of Nunavut (Kitikmeot, Kivalliq and Qikiqtaaluk), the Qikiqtaaluk Region without Iqaluit, and Nunavik (northern Quebec). Costs were acquired from the territorial governments, hospitals and contracted agencies. The perspective is that of the public payer, with a 6-month timeline. In scenario A, universal prophylaxis was provided until the end of the respiratory syncytial virus season, and in scenario B, infants received prophylaxis until 5 months of age. The ICERs of scenario A were compared with those of scenario B.

RESULTS

Under scenario A, the cost per admission avoided was as high as $546 115 in the Northwest Territories, compared with a cost savings of $36 145 in the Kitikmeot Region. Under scenario B, the ICER showed cost savings of $48 549 in the Kitikmeot Region and $2731 in the Kivalliq Region, with low ICERs in Nunavik of $15 601.

INTERPRETATION

Considerable cost savings were found for the Kitikmeot Region with universal palivizumab prophylaxis in term infants with both scenarios, whereas cost savings were found for the Kivalliq Region with scenario B. Stopping prophylaxis at 5 months of age was a more cost-effective strategy in all regions except the Kitikmeot Region. Nunavik had low ICERs, and prophylaxis should be considered for this region.

Consensus conference on the appropriateness of palivizumab prophylaxis in respiratory syncytial virus disease

Respiratory syncytial virus infection represents a clinical burden among young children under 24 months. Palivizumab is the only drug licensed in Italy for the prevention of serious lower respiratory tract disease requiring hospitalization caused by respiratory syncytial virus in children at high risk. However recommendations for palivizumab prophylaxis are heterogeneous. Not all the published documents agree about the clinical indications of palivizumab; this could lead to different clinical practices and concerns about the appropriateness of prophylaxis. These issues and the lack of evidence about palivizumab prophylaxis efficacy in specific medical conditions brought on the idea of a consensus conference on the current recommendations for the management and prevention of bronchiolitis, in order to share useful indications. The goal was to perform a review of the evidence regarding the efficacy and the safety of palivizumab and give recommendations in order to harmonize its use. A structured and validated method to conduct the consensus process was adopted. The consensus conference recommends palivizumab prophylaxis in infants born before 29 weeks and younger than 12 months at the start of the epidemic season. According to evidence from literature and experts' opinion, palivizumab prophylaxis is not recommended in preterm infants of gestational age ≥29 weeks, without co-morbidity (i.e., cardiac, bronchopulmonary diseases). The experts identified some clinical rare conditions for which the decision of prophylaxis should be entrusted to the specialists. The evaluation of the appropriateness of palivizumab prophylaxis in the single patient should be documented by the specialists. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2016;51:1088-1096. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Risk of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease in a Subtropical Area

OBJECTIVE

To compare the risk of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-associated hospitalization and analyze the epidemiology of RSV infection in patients with cyanotic and acyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD), we analyzed the nationwide health insurance database from 2005-2010.

STUDY DESIGN

This study included 1050 patients with cyanotic CHD and 7077 patients with acyanotic CHD. Patients with acyanotic CHD were further classified into hemodynamically significant (hs)-acyanotic and non-hs-acyanotic groups according to whether they underwent surgery or took at least 2 anticongestive medications.

RESULTS

RSV-associated hospitalization was higher in the cyanotic group than in hs-acyanotic and non-hs-acyanotic groups both before 1 year of age (4.8% vs 2.1% vs 1.5%, P < .001) and between 1 and 2 years of age (0.9% vs 0.56% vs 0.14%, P = .003). The hospitalization duration, intensive care, ventilator support prevalence, hospitalization cost, and mortality rate were significantly higher in the cyanotic group than in the other 2 groups. Logistic regression revealed that cyanotic CHD was the most significant risk factor for the ventilator support and RSV-associated mortality. In both patients with cyanotic and acyanotic CHD, RSV-associated hospitalization rate was higher in patients aged younger than 1 year and in spring and autumn in Taiwan, a subtropical country.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show that patients with cyanotic CHD have a higher risk of severe RSV infection than do those with acyanotic CHD. RSV prophylaxis is more important and may reduce costs more for patients with cyanotic CHD.

Efficacy of palivizumab prophylaxis among infants with congenital heart disease: A case control study

BACKGROUND

Palivizumab prophylaxis for RSV has been consistently reported to reduce the risk of hospital admissions related to RSV infection in children with symptomatic cardiac disease. This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of palivizumab prophylaxis among infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) in Turkey.

METHODS

A total of 91 infants with CHD who received palivizumab prophylaxis and 96 infants with CHD without prophylaxis (0-12 months:52; 12-24 months:44) were included in this single-center retrospective case control study. Data on patient characteristics, household environment, and LRTIs were evaluated.

RESULTS

In patients without prophylaxis, the rate of overall lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) (P < 0.001), complicated LRTIs (P = 0.006), LRTI-related hospitalization (P < 0.001) and ICU admission (P = 0.008) were significantly higher than control patients. Weight <10th percentile (odds ratio (OR) 5.78, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.37; 24.4, P < 0.001) and concomitant chromosome abnormality (OR 4.01, 95% CI:1.01;16.45, P < 0.001) in patients with prophylaxis, while presence of a sibling <11 years of age (OR 3.38, 95% CI: 1.21; 9.46, P < 0.001) and congestive heart failure (OR 8.63, 95% CI: 2.81; 26.6, P < 0.001) in the control group were the significant correlates of LRTI-related hospitalization.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed significantly lower rate of overall and complicated LRTIs, LRTI-related hospitalization and ICU admissions in infants with CHD via palivizumab prophylaxis.

Updated guidance for palivizumab prophylaxis among infants and young children at increased risk of hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus infection

Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for the use of palivizumab prophylaxis against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was first published in a policy statement in 1998. Guidance initially was based on the result from a single randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial conducted in 1996-1997 describing an overall reduction in RSV hospitalization rate from 10.6% among placebo recipients to 4.8% among children who received prophylaxis. The results of a second randomized, placebo-controlled trial of children with hemodynamically significant heart disease were published in 2003 and revealed a reduction in RSV hospitalization rate from 9.7% in control subjects to 5.3% among prophylaxis recipients. Because no additional controlled trials regarding efficacy were published, AAP guidance has been updated periodically to reflect the most recent literature regarding children at greatest risk of severe disease. Since the last update in 2012, new data have become available regarding the seasonality of RSV circulation, palivizumab pharmacokinetics, the changing incidence of bronchiolitis hospitalizations, the effects of gestational age and other risk factors on RSV hospitalization rates, the mortality of children hospitalized with RSV infection, and the effect of prophylaxis on wheezing and palivizumab-resistant RSV isolates. These data enable further refinement of AAP guidance to most clearly focus on those children at greatest risk.

The economic burden of prematurity in Canada

Background

Preterm birth is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality among infants worldwide, and imposes considerable burden on health, education and social services, as well as on families and caregivers. Morbidity and mortality resulting from preterm birth is highest among early (< 28 weeks gestational age) and moderate (28–32 weeks) preterm infants, relative to late preterm infants (33–36 weeks). However, substantial societal burden is associated with late prematurity due to the larger number of late preterm infants relative to early and moderate preterm infants.

Methods

The aim in this study was to characterize the burden of premature birth in Canada for early, moderate, and late premature infants, including resource utilization, direct medical costs, parental out-of-pocket costs, education costs, and mortality, using a validated and published decision model from the UK, and adapting it to a Canadian setting based on analysis of administrative, population-based data from Québec.

Results

Two-year survival was estimated at 56.0% for early preterm infants, 92.8% for moderate preterm infants, and 98.4% for late preterm infants. Per infant resource utilization consistently decreased with age. For moderately preterm infants, hospital days ranged from 1.6 at age two to 0.09 at age ten. Cost per infant over the first ten years of life was estimated to be $67,467 for early preterm infants, $52,796 for moderate preterm infants, and $10,010 for late preterm infants. Based on population sizes this corresponds to total national costs of $123.3 million for early preterm infants, $255.6 million for moderate preterm infants, $208.2 million for late preterm infants, and $587.1 million for all infants.

Conclusion

Premature birth results in significant infant morbidity, mortality, healthcare utilization and costs in Canada. A comprehensive decision-model based on analysis of a Canadian population-based administrative data source suggested that the greatest national-level burden is associated with moderate preterm infants due to both a large cost per infant and population size while the highest individual-level burden is in early preterm infants and the largest total population size is in late preterm infants. Although the highest medical costs are incurred during the neonatal period, greater resource utilization and costs extend into childhood.

Respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis in children

Respiratory syncytial virus is a highly infectious virus that commonly causes bronchiolitis and leads to high morbidity and a low, but important, incidence of mortality. Supportive therapy is the foundation of management. Hydration/nutrition and respiratory support are important evidence-based interventions. For children with severe disease, continuous positive airway pressure or mechanical ventilation may be necessary. Ribavirin may be used for treatment of patients with severe disease. Palivizumab provides important ongoing immunoprophylaxis during epidemic months for high-risk infants. Caregiver education and incorporating an explanation of all therapies and anticipatory guidance, including strategies for reducing the risk of infection, are vital.

Respiratory syncytial virus infections in infants and children with congenital heart disease: update on the evidence of prevention with palivizumab

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Lower respiratory tract infections multiply morbidity and mortality within patients with significant congenital heart disease (CHD). For respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), one of the most important pathogens, immunoprophylaxis with palivizumab has successfully been introduced. The question is which patients will benefit most from this costly preventive treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

The era after the introduction of palivizumab has revealed a steep decrease in mortality. The markers of success - hospital stays, admission to the intensive care unit, days on mechanical ventilation, and death - consistently favor immunoprophylaxis. The key point of treatment success remains in all cases a careful patient selection, adherence to a time limit of 30 days between the injections and early use after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, as well as avoidance of nosocomial-acquired infections. Preventive therapy with palivizumab in patients with CHD has been investigated in terms of operating efficiency - with the lowest costs per quality-adjusted life years compared with preterm infants with or without bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

SUMMARY

The burden of RSV disease will decline, once a vaccine is available. Meanwhile, immunoprophylaxis with palivizumab is a useful tool for high-risk patients to reduce comorbidity and fatal outcome. Pharmacoeconomic considerations measuring quality-adjusted life years indicate important information about cost-effectiveness.

Monoclonal antibody for reducing the risk of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children

BACKGROUND

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most important viral pathogens causing acute respiratory infections in children. It results in about 3.4 million hospitalisations annually in children under five. Palivizumab is an anti-RSV monoclonal antibody, administered intramuscularly at a dose of 15 mg/kg once every 30 days. The efficacy and safety of palivizumab has been evaluated in multicentre, randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and a large number of economic evaluations (EEs) have tested its cost-effectiveness.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness and safety of palivizumab prophylaxis compared with placebo, or another type of prophylaxis, in reducing the risk of complications (hospitalisation due to RSV infection) in high-risk infants and children. To assess the cost-effectiveness (or cost-utility) of palivizumab prophylaxis compared with no prophylaxis in infants and children in different risk groups.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched CENTRAL 2012, Issue 7, MEDLINE (1996 to July week 4, 2012), EMBASE (1996 to August 2012), CINAHL (1996 to August 2012) and LILACS (1996 to August 2012) for studies of effectiveness and safety. We searched the NHS Economic Evaluations Database (NHS EED 2012, Issue 4), Health Economics Evaluations Database (HEED, 9 August 2012) and Paediatric Economic Database Evaluations (PEDE, 1980 to 2009), MEDLINE (1996 to July week 4, 2012) and EMBASE (1996 to August 2012) for economic evaluations.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included RCTs comparing palivizumab prophylaxis with a placebo, no prophylaxis or another type of prophylaxis in preventing serious lower respiratory tract disease caused by RSV in paediatric patients at high risk. We included cost-effectiveness analyses and cost-utility analyses comparing palivizumab prophylaxis with no prophylaxis.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed risk of bias for the included studies and extracted data for both the RCTs and EEs. We calculated risk ratios (RRs) and their associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dichotomous outcomes and for adverse events (AEs). We provided a narrative summary of results for continuous outcomes, due to missing data on standard deviations. We performed fixed-effect meta-analyses for the estimation of pooled effects whenever there was no indication of heterogeneity between included RCTs. We summarised the results reported in included EEs, such as incremental costs, incremental effectiveness, and incremental cost-effectiveness and/or cost-utility ratios (ICERs), and we calculated ICER present values in 2011 Euros for all studies.

MAIN RESULTS

Of the seven available RCTs, three compared palivizumab with a placebo in a total of 2831 patients, and four compared palivizumab with motavizumab in a total of 8265 patients. All RCTs were sponsored by the drug manufacturing company. The overall quality of RCTs was good, but for most of the outcomes assessed only data from two studies contributed to the analysis. Palivizumab prophylaxis was associated with a statistically significant reduction in RSV hospitalisations (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.64) when compared to placebo. When compared to motavizumab, palivizumab recipients showed a non-significant increase in the risk of RSV hospitalisations (RR 1.36, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.90). In both cases, the proportion of children with any AE or any AE related to the study drug was similar between the two groups.In terms of economic evidence, we included 34 studies that reported cost-effectiveness and/or cost-utility data for palivizumab prophylaxis compared with no prophylaxis, in high-risk children with different underlying medical conditions. The overall quality of EEs was good, but the variations in modelling approaches were considerable across the studies, leading to big differences in cost-effectiveness results. The cost-effectiveness of palivizumab prophylaxis depends on the consumption of resources taken into account by the study authors; and on the cost-effectiveness threshold set by the healthcare sector in each country.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is evidence that palivizumab prophylaxis is effective in reducing the frequency of hospitalisations due to RSV infection, i.e. in reducing the incidence of serious lower respiratory tract RSV disease in children with chronic lung disease, congenital heart disease or those born preterm.Results from economic evaluations of palivizumab prophylaxis are inconsistent, implying that economic findings must be interpreted with caution. ICER values varied considerably across studies, from highly cost-effective to not cost-effective. The availability of low-cost palivizumab would reduce its inequitable distribution, so that RSV prophylaxis would be available to the poorest countries where children are at greatest risk.

The cost effectiveness of palivizumab in congenital heart disease: a review of the current evidence

OBJECTIVE

To review and summarize the literature concerning the cost-effectiveness of palivizumab compared to no prophylaxis in infants and young children with congenital heart disease (CHD).

METHODS

A systematic literature search (MEDLINE to March 2012, limited to English language) identified studies that examined the cost-effectiveness of palivizumab in CHD populations. The quality of each study was assigned a quality score of 1-100 based on the Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) instrument.

RESULTS

Ten studies were identified through the search strategy, of which four principally addressed the research question and six additional articles examined CHD in conjunction with other high-risk indications for palivizumab in their economic analyses. QHES for the studies ranged from 58-100, with a median score of 93 (76 for principal articles, 94 for secondary analyses). Cost-utility analyses, which evaluated costs per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), showed favorable results in five analyses (range $10,329-$16,648 per QALY), while the other two suggested no cost-effectiveness ($146,061 and $169,971 per QALY). Of three cost-effectiveness analyses, which assessed costs per hospital admission prevented (HAP), two concluded that the drug was not cost-effective ($16,216/day of hospitalization prevented and $868,296/HAP), while one did not interpret the final result ($43,561/HAP).

LIMITATIONS

Significant variance exists across study characteristics, analytic models utilized, duration of RSV seasons assessed, primary outcome measures evaluated, sensitivity analyses conducted, and other model assumptions. Further, it was difficult to obtain true CHD-based quality scores for the studies that analyzed more than one indication.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this review currently remain inconclusive. Although a favorable trend was identified in the cost-utility analyses, additional rigorously conducted studies are necessary to better estimate the cost-effectiveness of palivizumab for CHD infants in clinical practice.