1
|
Van Muylder A, D'Hooghe T, Luyten J. Economic Evaluation of Medically Assisted Reproduction: A Methodological Systematic Review. Med Decis Making 2023; 43:973-991. [PMID: 37621143 DOI: 10.1177/0272989x231188129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medically assisted reproduction (MAR) is a challenging application area for health economic evaluations, entailing a broad range of costs and outcomes, stretching out long-term and accruing to several parties. PURPOSE To systematically review which costs and outcomes are included in published economic evaluations of MAR and to compare these with health technology assessment (HTA) prescriptions about which cost and outcomes should be considered for different evaluation objectives. DATA SOURCES HTA guidelines and systematic searches of PubMed Central, Embase, WOS CC, CINAHL, Cochrane (CENTRAL), HTA, and NHS EED. STUDY SELECTION All economic evaluations of MAR published from 2010 to 2022. DATA EXTRACTION A predetermined data collection form summarized study characteristics. Essential costs and outcomes of MAR were listed based on HTA and treatment guidelines for different evaluation objectives. For each study, included costs and outcomes were reviewed. DATA SYNTHESIS The review identified 93 cost-effectiveness estimates, of which 57% were expressed as cost-per-(healthy)-live-birth, 19% as cost-per-pregnancy, and 47% adopted a clinic perspective. Few adopted societal perspectives and only 2% used quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Broader evaluations omitted various relevant costs and outcomes related to MAR. There are several cost and outcome categories for which available HTA guidelines do not provide conclusive directions regarding inclusion or exclusion. LIMITATIONS Studies published before 2010 and of interventions not clearly labeled as MAR were excluded. We focus on methods rather than which MAR treatments are cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS Economic evaluations of MAR typically calculate a short-term cost-per-live-birth from a clinic perspective. Broader analyses, using cost-per-QALY or BCRs from societal perspectives, considering the full scope of reproduction-related costs and outcomes, are scarce and often incomplete. We provide a summary of costs and outcomes for future research guidance and identify areas requiring HTA methodological development. HIGHLIGHTS The cost-effectiveness of MAR procedures can be exceptionally complex to estimate as there is a broad range of costs and outcomes involved, in principle stretching out over multiple generations and over many stakeholders.We list 21 key areas of costs and outcomes of MAR. Which of these needs to be accounted for alters for different evaluation objectives (determined by the type of economic evaluation, time horizon considered, and perspective).Published studies mostly investigate cost-effectiveness in the very short-term, from a clinic perspective, expressed as cost-per-live-birth. There is a lack of comprehensive economic evaluations that adopt a broader perspective with a longer time horizon. The broader the evaluation objective, the more relevant costs and outcomes were excluded.For several costs and outcomes, particularly those relevant for broader, societal evaluations of MAR, the inclusion or exclusion is theoretically ambiguous, and HTA guidelines do not offer sufficient guidance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Astrid Van Muylder
- Department Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (AVM, JL); Research Group Reproductive Medicine, Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ Systems, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium (TD); Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA (TD); Global Medical Affairs Fertility, Research and Development, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (TD). The review was written at the Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy. It was presented at the ESHRE 38th Annual Meeting (Milan 2022). The authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Astrid Van Muylder and Jeroen Luyten have no conflicting interests to declare. The participation of Thomas D'Hooghe to this publication is part of his academic work; he does not see a conflict of interest as Merck KGaA was not involved in writing this article. The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: We acknowledge an internal funding from KU Leuven for this study. The funding agreement ensured the authors' independence in designing the study, interpreting the data, writing, and publishing the report. The following authors are employed by the sponsor: Astrid Van Muylder and Jeroen Luyten
| | - Thomas D'Hooghe
- Department Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (AVM, JL); Research Group Reproductive Medicine, Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ Systems, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium (TD); Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA (TD); Global Medical Affairs Fertility, Research and Development, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (TD). The review was written at the Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy. It was presented at the ESHRE 38th Annual Meeting (Milan 2022). The authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Astrid Van Muylder and Jeroen Luyten have no conflicting interests to declare. The participation of Thomas D'Hooghe to this publication is part of his academic work; he does not see a conflict of interest as Merck KGaA was not involved in writing this article. The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: We acknowledge an internal funding from KU Leuven for this study. The funding agreement ensured the authors' independence in designing the study, interpreting the data, writing, and publishing the report. The following authors are employed by the sponsor: Astrid Van Muylder and Jeroen Luyten
| | - Jeroen Luyten
- Department Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium (AVM, JL); Research Group Reproductive Medicine, Department of Development and Regeneration, Organ Systems, Group Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium (TD); Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA (TD); Global Medical Affairs Fertility, Research and Development, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (TD). The review was written at the Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy. It was presented at the ESHRE 38th Annual Meeting (Milan 2022). The authors declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: Astrid Van Muylder and Jeroen Luyten have no conflicting interests to declare. The participation of Thomas D'Hooghe to this publication is part of his academic work; he does not see a conflict of interest as Merck KGaA was not involved in writing this article. The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: We acknowledge an internal funding from KU Leuven for this study. The funding agreement ensured the authors' independence in designing the study, interpreting the data, writing, and publishing the report. The following authors are employed by the sponsor: Astrid Van Muylder and Jeroen Luyten
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Skedgel C, Cubi-Molla P, Mott D, Gameiro S, Boivin J, Al-Janabi H, Brazier J, Markert M, Andersson FL, Jofre-Bonet M. Unmet Parenthood Goals, Health-Related Quality of Life and Apparent Irrationality: Understanding the Value of Treatments for Infertility. PHARMACOECONOMICS - OPEN 2023; 7:337-344. [PMID: 36920719 PMCID: PMC10016171 DOI: 10.1007/s41669-023-00402-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
An increasing number of prospective parents are experiencing infertility along with associated negative impacts on mental health and life satisfaction that can extend across a network of individuals and family members. Assistive reproductive technologies (ART) can help prospective parents achieve their parenthood goals but, like any health technology, they must demonstrate acceptable 'value for money' to qualify for public funding. We argue that current approaches to understanding the value of ART, including quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gains based on changes in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and, more often, cost per live birth, are too narrow to capture the full impact of unmet parenthood goals and ART. We see a fundamental disconnect between measures of HRQOL and broader measures of wellbeing associated with met and unmet parenthood goals. We also suggest that simple concepts such as 'patient' and 'carer' are of limited applicability in the context of ART, where 'spillovers' extend across a wide network of individuals, and the person receiving treatment is often not the infertile individual. Consideration of individual and societal wellbeing beyond HRQOL is necessary to understand the full range of negative impacts associated with unmet parenthood goals and the corresponding positive impacts of successful ART. We suggest moving towards a wellbeing perspective on value to achieve a fuller understanding of value and promote cross-sector allocative efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chris Skedgel
- Office of Health Economics, Goldings House, 2nd Floor, Hay's Galleria, 2 Hay's Lane, London, SE1 2HB, UK.
| | - Patricia Cubi-Molla
- Office of Health Economics, Goldings House, 2nd Floor, Hay's Galleria, 2 Hay's Lane, London, SE1 2HB, UK
| | - David Mott
- Office of Health Economics, Goldings House, 2nd Floor, Hay's Galleria, 2 Hay's Lane, London, SE1 2HB, UK
| | - Sofia Gameiro
- School of Psychology, University of Cardiff, Cardiff, UK
| | - Jacky Boivin
- School of Psychology, University of Cardiff, Cardiff, UK
| | - Hareth Al-Janabi
- Health Economics Unit, Institute of Applied Health Research, College of Medical & Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - John Brazier
- School of Health & Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | | | - Mireia Jofre-Bonet
- Office of Health Economics, Goldings House, 2nd Floor, Hay's Galleria, 2 Hay's Lane, London, SE1 2HB, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Flykt MS, Prince M, Vänskä M, Lindblom J, Minkkinen J, Tiitinen A, Poikkeus P, Biringen Z, Punamäki RL. Adolescent attachment to parents and peers in singletons and twins born with assisted and natural conception. Hum Reprod Open 2022; 2022:hoac012. [PMID: 35419495 PMCID: PMC8994490 DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoac012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Does adolescent attachment to parents and peers differ between singletons and twins born with ART or natural conception (NC)? SUMMARY ANSWER Adolescent attachment anxiety with the father was higher among NC singletons than among ART and NC twins, whereas attachment avoidance with the father was higher in ART singletons than in NC singletons and NC twins. No differences were found in attachment to the mother, best friend or romantic partner. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Most studies have not found differences between ART and NC singletons in parent–adolescent relationships, but twin relationships may be more at risk. No previous study has examined all four groups in the same study, or specifically looked at attachment relationships. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This was an 18-year, prospective and controlled longitudinal study with families of 496 ART singletons, 101 ART twin pairs, 476 NC singletons and 22 NC twin pairs. Families were recruited during the second trimester of pregnancy; the ART group was recruited from five infertility clinics in Finland and the control group was recruited from a hospital outpatient clinic during a routine visit. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Mothers and fathers gave background information for this study during pregnancy, and during the child’s first year and early school age (7–8 years). For the ART group, infertility characteristics and prenatal medical information was also obtained from the patient registry of the infertility clinics. Children (originally 50% girls) filled in electronic questionnaires related to their attachment to mother, father, best friend and romantic partner (Experiences in Close Relationships—Relationship Structures) at 17–19 years of age. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Adolescent attachment anxiety to father was higher in NC singletons than in ART twins, P = 0.004 and marginally higher than in NC twins, P = 0.06. Adolescent attachment avoidance to father was higher in ART singletons than in NC singletons, P = 0.006 and marginally higher than in NC twins, P = 0.055. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The sample size was small especially in the NC twin group and there was drop-out over the 18-year time period, especially among boys and families with lower parental education level. The study only included native Finnish-speaking families. The results could differ in a more diverse population. ART singletons were younger and had fewer siblings than ART twins and NC children, and ART and NC twins had more newborn health risks than ART and NC singletons. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The study adds to a growing body of evidence that neither ART treatments nor being a twin places mother–child relationships or peer relationships at long-term risk. However, in our study, which was the first to examine both ART and twinhood simultaneously, we found that there may be more problems in father–adolescent relationships, but only in ART singletons and only related to attachment avoidance. Our findings suggest that men, as well as women, should receive enough support in pre- and peri-natal health care during and after infertility treatments. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This study was funded by Academy of Finland (grant number 2501308988), the Juho Vainio Foundation and the Finnish Cultural Foundation. The authors report no conflict of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M S Flykt
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychology and Logopedics, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, 33014 Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - M Prince
- Colorado State University, Department of Psychology, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
| | - M Vänskä
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, 33014 Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - J Lindblom
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, 33014 Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- University of Turku, Department of Clinical Medicine, 20014 University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - J Minkkinen
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, 33014 Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - A Tiitinen
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - P Poikkeus
- University of Helsinki, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital, 00029 Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Z Biringen
- Colorado State University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80523, USA
| | - R-L Punamäki
- Tampere University, Faculty of Social Sciences, Department of Psychology, 33014 Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yoshimasu K, Sato A, Miyauchi N, Tsuno K, Nishigori H, Nakai K, Arima T. Lack of association between receiving ART treatment and parental psychological distress during pregnancy: Preliminary findings of the Japan Environment and Children's Study. REPRODUCTIVE BIOMEDICINE & SOCIETY ONLINE 2018; 5:5-16. [PMID: 29774270 PMCID: PMC5952739 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbms.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 07/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
In a nationwide population-based birth cohort study in Japan, pregnant women and their partners were evaluated for psychological distress as part of the first and second/third trimester health checks. Participants were divided into three groups: an infertility group receiving assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment (239 mothers and 151 fathers); an infertility group receiving non-ART treatment (350 mothers and 215 fathers); and a spontaneous pregnancy group (8514 mothers and 5110 fathers). Data on maternal and child health as well as basic characteristics were collected via medical records and self-administered questionnaires. The Kessler Six-item Psychological Distress Scale was employed for eligible women and their partners. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between psychological distress experienced during pregnancy and ART treatment, with adjustment for potential confounders such as basic health status and socio-economic status. The mothers who received ART treatment suffered less psychological distress than the mothers in the other two groups. In multivariate analysis adjusted for background characteristics, no significant association was observed between persistent maternal distress and ART treatment (adjusted odds ratio 0.79, 95% confidence interval 0.49-1.26). Higher socio-economic status among couples receiving ART treatment may explain, in part, the lack of association between ART treatment and parental distress during pregnancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kouichi Yoshimasu
- Department of Hygiene, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Akiko Sato
- Environment and Genome Research Centre, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Naoko Miyauchi
- Environment and Genome Research Centre, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Kanami Tsuno
- Department of Hygiene, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Kimiidera, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Hidekazu Nishigori
- Environment and Genome Research Centre, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Nakai
- Environment and Genome Research Centre, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Takahiro Arima
- Environment and Genome Research Centre, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The goal of this review was to summarize the recent research on the relationship between stress and assisted reproductive technology treatment. RECENT FINDINGS Women and men with infertility report high levels of distress that can impact their quality of life. There are numerous psychosocial interventions, including cognitive behavior therapy and/or self-help ones, which may decrease distress, increase patient retention and improve pregnancy rates. SUMMARY Patient distress is an important factor to consider. Decreasing burden of care may lead to significant improvements in assisted reproductive technology outcome.
Collapse
|