Cost-effectiveness of dexamethasone and nebulized epinephrine in broncholitis

January 01, 0001

Cost-effectiveness of dexamethasone and nebulized epinephrine in broncholitis

These Canadian researchers assessed the cost-effectiveness of treatment of bronchiolitis in infants with epinephrine and dexamethasone. They used data from a double blind, randomized controlled trial, the Canadian Bronchiolitis Epinephrine Steroid Trial. Societal and health care costs were calculated over the 22 days following enrollment. The duration of symptoms of feeding problems, sleeping problems, coughing, and noisy breathing were measured.

The researchers found: "The combination of nebulized epinephrine plus oral dexamethasone was dominant over the other 3 comparators in that it was both the most effective and least costly. Average societal costs were $1115 for the combination therapy, $1210 for no active treatment, $1322 for epinephrine alone, and $1360 for dexamethasone alone. The average time to curtailment of all symptoms was 12.1 days for the combination therapy, 12.7 days for no active treatment, 13.0 days for epinephrine alone, and 12.6 days for dexamethasone alone."

The researchers concluded: "Treating infants with bronchiolitis with a combination of nebulized epinephrine plus oral dexamethasone is the most cost-effective treatment option, because it is the most effective in controlling symptoms and is associated with the least costs."

Dexamethasone and nebulized epinephrine in combination are the most cost effective treatment option for bronchiolitis

For the full abstract, click here.

Pediatrics 126(4):623-631, October 2010 © 2010 American Academy of Pediatrics
Cost-effectiveness of Epinephrine and Dexamethasone in Children With Bronchiolitis. Amanda Sumner, Douglas Coyle, Craig Mitton, et al.

Category: R. Respiratory. Keywords: bronchiolitis, dexamethasone, epinephrine, infants, cost- effectiveness, randomized controlled trial, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Paul Schaefer, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 29 October 2010

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.

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