Cost-effectiveness analysis of tranexamic acid for the treatment of traumatic brain injury, based on the results of the CRASH-3 randomised trial: a decision modelling approach

Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK Jack.Williams@lshtm.ac.uk. Clinical Trials Unit, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Centre for Urgent and Emergency Care Research, School of Health and Related Research, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. Emergency Department, Salford Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, Salford, UK. Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

BMJ global health. 2020;5(9)
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION An estimated 69 million traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur each year worldwide, with most in low-income and middle-income countries. The CRASH-3 randomised trial found that intravenous administration of tranexamic acid within 3 hours of injury reduces head injury deaths in patients sustaining a mild or moderate TBI. We examined the cost-effectiveness of tranexamic acid treatment for TBI. METHODS A Markov decision model was developed to assess the cost-effectiveness of treatment with and without tranexamic acid, in addition to current practice. We modelled the decision in the UK and Pakistan from a health service perspective, over a lifetime time horizon. We used data from the CRASH-3 trial for the risk of death during the trial period (28 days) and patient quality of life, and data from the literature to estimate costs and long-term outcomes post-TBI. We present outcomes as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and 2018 costs in pounds for the UK, and US dollars for Pakistan. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) per QALY gained were estimated, and compared with country specific cost-effective thresholds. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were also performed. RESULTS Tranexamic acid was highly cost-effective for patients with mild TBI and intracranial bleeding or patients with moderate TBI, at £4288 per QALY in the UK, and US$24 per QALY in Pakistan. Tranexamic acid was 99% and 98% cost-effective at the cost-effectiveness thresholds for the UK and Pakistan, respectively, and remained cost-effective across all deterministic sensitivity analyses. Tranexamic acid was even more cost-effective with earlier treatment administration. The cost-effectiveness for those with severe TBI was uncertain. CONCLUSION Early administration of tranexamic acid is highly cost-effective for patients with mild or moderate TBI in the UK and Pakistan, relative to the cost-effectiveness thresholds used. The estimated ICERs suggest treatment is likely to be cost-effective across all income settings globally.
Study details
Study Design : Economic Study
Language : eng
Additional Material : Letter in: ‘Lakartidningen’ (2020) PMID: 33021328, 117:20058
Credits : Bibliographic data from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine