Economic evaluation of the use of Innohep® in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism

Summary

This article reports the cost implications of using Innohep® (tinzaparin), a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), instead of intravenous (iv) unfractionated heparin (UFH) in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The expected cost per patient, including initial treatment costs and the cost of managing adverse outcomes (but excluding costs common to both regimes) was found to be £191.81 for patients treated with UFH and £186.64 for patients treated with Innohep® (costs estimated as of end 1997). Therefore, the use of Innohep® reduces the expected cost per patient by £5.17 or 3%. When the costs of managing adverse outcomes occurring after cessation of UFH/Innohep® therapy are excluded, expected costs per patient for UFH and Innohep® treatment are £136.70 and £120.22, respectively. Therefore, when outcomes not directly attributable to the choice between UFH and Innohep® treatment are reduced, the use of Innohep® reduces the expected cost per patient by £16.48 or 12%.

Innohep® reduces costs through greater ease of administration, by removing the need for extensive laboratory monitoring and by saving staff time. These results are generally robust to variations in key assumptions. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates that if patients treated with Innohep® can be discharged from hospital earlier, with their treatment continuing at home, substantial cost savings may result.