Table 17Economic evidence profile: oral iron versus standard clinical treatment

StudyApplicabilityLimitationsOther commentsIncremental costIncremental effects (units of blood transfused)Cost-effectiveness (£/units of blood transfused saved)Uncertainty
Lidder 2007183
(UK)		Partially applicable(a)Potential serious limitations(b)Within trial analysis (RCT) of pre-operative iron supplementation in patients with colorectal cancer fit for respective surgery (with haemoglobin level below 13.5 g/dl in men and 11.5 g/dl in women). Analysis of individual level data, with unit costs applied.Saves £147(c)Saves 1.4 units(d)Oral iron is dominantNo analysis reported
a

Health effects not expressed as QALYs.

b

Short time horizon which does not account for future savings as a result of reduced risk of transfusion-related adverse events / illness. Costs of other resource use such as staff costs not included, source of unit costs unclear and no analysis of uncertainty conducted.

c

2007 UK pounds. Costs incorporated are: ferrous sulphate and unit cost of allogeneic blood.

d

Mean units of blood transfused from within trial.

From: 5, Alternatives to blood transfusion for patients having surgery: Oral iron, IV iron and erythropoietin

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Blood Transfusion.
NICE Guideline, No. 24.
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