A Cost-Utility Analysis of 5 Strategies for the Management of Acute Otitis Media in Children

Nader Shaikh, Emily E. Dando, Mark L. Dunleavy, Dorothy L. Curran, Judith M. Martin, Alejandro Hoberman, Kenneth J. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To assess whether antimicrobial therapy in young children with acute otitis media reduces time to resolution of symptoms, overall symptom burden, and persistence of otoscopic evidence of infection. We used a cost-utility model to evaluate whether immediate antimicrobial treatment seems to be worthwhile, and if so, which antimicrobial agent is most cost effective. Study design We compared the cost per quality-adjusted life-day of 5 treatment regimens in children younger than 2 years of age with acute otitis media: immediate amoxicillin/clavulanate, immediate amoxicillin, immediate cefdinir, watchful waiting, and delayed prescription (DP) for antibiotic. Results The 5 treatment regimens, listed in order from least effective to most effective were DP, watchful waiting, immediate cefdinir, immediate amoxicillin, and immediate amoxicillin/clavulanate. Listed in order from least costly to most costly, the regimens were DP, immediate amoxicillin, watchful waiting, immediate amoxicillin/clavulanate, and immediate cefdinir. The incremental cost-utility ratio of immediate amoxicillin compared with DP was $101.07 per quality-adjusted life-day gained. The incremental cost-utility ratio of immediate amoxicillin/clavulanate compared with amoxicillin was $2331.28 per quality-adjusted life-day gained. Conclusions In children younger than 2 years of age with acute otitis media and no recent antibiotic exposure, immediate amoxicillin seems to be the most cost-effective initial treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)54-60.e3
JournalJournal of Pediatrics
Volume189
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2017

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier Inc.

Keywords

  • acute otitis media
  • cost
  • cost effectiveness
  • delayed prescription
  • ear infection
  • utility
  • watchful waiting

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A Cost-Utility Analysis of 5 Strategies for the Management of Acute Otitis Media in Children'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this