Cost-Effectiveness of Two Dressings in Preventing Pressure Injuries in Intensive Care Patients

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the cost-effectiveness of using silicone adhesive multilayer foam and transparent polyurethane film in preventing pressure injuries in patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit. Method: this is an economic cost-effectiveness study, developed with public domain data and a rapid literature review, which included three studies developed in Canada, the United Kingdom, Italy and the United States. The searches were carried out in the PubMed, Cochrane and Scopus databases. The population was patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The perspective was from the Brazilian Health System, with a time horizon of less than one year. Data was collected and analyzed between March and June 2022. A decision tree model was developed using TreeAge Pro® 2017 software to project economic outcomes of incremental cost and effectiveness, incremental cost per effectiveness, and cost per percentage increase in preventing the development of pressure injuries. Sensitivity analysis was also performed. The Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards and the Methodological Guideline for Economic Evaluation of the Brazilian Ministry of Health recommendations were adopted. Results: multilayer foam reduces the occurrence of pressure injuries at a lower cost when compared to film, promoting an average saving of R$ 278.78 (US$ 1,393.90) for each patient. Conclusion: multilayer foam was the most cost-effective technology in preventing pressure injuries in Intensive Care Unit patients in the Brazilian Health System.