| Study | Applicability | Limitations | Other comments | Incremental cost | Incremental effects | Cost-effectiveness | Uncertainty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walsh 2013320 (UK) | Partially applicable(a) | Potentially serious limitations(b) | Within-trial analysis (RCT, same paper) of anaemic older critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation transfused using either a liberal strategy (Hb transfusion trigger ≤90 g/litre; target Hb range, 91-110 g/litre) or a restrictive strategy (Hb transfusion trigger ≤70 g/litre; target Hb range, 71-90 g/litre). RCT included in clinical review. Analysis of individual level resource use, with unit costs applied. | £18,265(c) | 0.072 life years(d) | £253,681 per life year gained | Bootstrapping analysis was used to quantify uncertainty in the ICER but only reported graphically. |
Health effects not expressed in terms of QALYs.
Health and resource outcomes based on one RCT of critically ill patients, short follow-up period, cost of strategies and blood transfusion not included in analysis.
2010 UK pounds. Costs components incorporated: Length of intensive care unit, high dependency unit and ward stay, self-reported hospital clinic visits, primary care visits and other community based health services.
Mean life years and mean SF-6D from within-trial analysis. QALYs were not calculated but SF-6D utility data were reported, incremental mean difference (liberal-restrictive) at: 60 days: -0.04 (95% CI -0.10 to 0.02) and 180 days: 0.06 (95% CI -0.01 to 0.14).
From: 10, Red blood cell: thresholds and targets
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