AB 6. Cost - effectiveness of nasal continuous positive airways treatment versus the absence of treatment, in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Abstract

Background Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is common in adult population and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Both diagnosis, based on polysomnography, and treatment, with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP), carry a potentially high cost.

Patients and methods The present study analyses the long-term cost-effectiveness of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) treatment versus the absence of treatment, as it relates to the effect of treatment on the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CHD). A Markov model was used to follow the progression of patients with OSAS based on published evidence. Data on treatment costs were collected from public hospitals in Greece. Within each cycle of the model, each patient can remain free of CHD, can develop CHD, can die of CHD related death, or can die of other causes. The model begins at the age of 55 years and lasts for 45 years.

Results The findings of this study show that the treatment of OSAS with nCPAP versus the absence of treatment, results in cost - saving due to the reduction in the cost of treatment for CHD when the analysis was restricted to the male population and increases the life - expectancy in both males and females.

Conclusions According to these results, early diagnosis of OSAS is mandatory for patients as it increases life expectancy and decreases the long-term cost of their therapy.