Cost-effectiveness analysis of implementing a secondary prevention programme in those patients who visited an emergency department for drug-related problems

Objective
To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a secondary prevention programme in patients admitted to the emergency department due to drug-related problems (DRPs).

Methods
A decision model compared costs and outcomes of patients with DRPs admitted to the emergency department. Model variables and costs, along with their distributions, were obtained from the trial results and literature. The study was performed from the perspective of the National Health System including only direct costs.

Key findings
The implementation of a secondary prevention programme for DRPs reduces costs associated with emergency department revisits, with an annual net benefit of €87 639. Considering a mortality rate attributable to readmission of 4.7%, the cost per life-years gained (LYG) with the implementation of this programme was €2205. In the short term, the reduction in the number of revisits following the programme implementation was the variable that most affected the model, with the benefit threshold value corresponding to a relative reduction of 12.4% of the number of revisits of patients with DRPs to obtain benefits.

Conclusions
Implementing a secondary prevention programme is cost-effective for patients with DRPs admitted to the emergency department. Implementation costs will be exceeded by reducing revisits to the emergency department.