Economic value of narrow-band imaging versus white light endoscopy for the diagnosis and surveillance of Barrett's esophagus: Cost-consequence model

PLoS One. 2019 Mar 13;14(3):e0212916. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212916. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is an abnormality arising from gastroesophageal reflux disease that can progressively evolve into a sequence of dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Progression of Barrett's esophagus into dysplasia is monitored with endoscopic surveillance. The current surveillance standard requests random biopsies plus targeted biopsies of suspicious lesions under white-light endoscopy, known as the Seattle protocol. Recently, published evidence has shown that narrow-band imaging (NBI) can guide targeted biopsies to identify dysplasia and reduce the need for random biopsies. We aimed to assess the health economic implications of adopting NBI-guided targeted biopsy vs. the Seattle protocol from a National Health Service England perspective. A decision tree model was developed to undertake a cost-consequence analysis. The model estimated total costs (i.e. staff and overheads; histopathology; adverse events; capital equipment) and clinical implications of monitoring a cohort of patients with known/suspected BE, on an annual basis. In the simulation, BE patients (N = 161,657 at Year 1; estimated annual increase: +20%) entered the model every year and underwent esophageal endoscopy. After 7 years, the adoption of NBI with targeted biopsies resulted in cost reduction of £458.0 mln vs. HD-WLE with random biopsies (overall costs: £1,966.2 mln and £2,424.2 mln, respectively). The incremental investment on capital equipment to upgrade hospitals with NBI (+£68.3 mln) was offset by savings due to the reduction of histological examinations (-£505.2 mln). Reduction of biopsies also determined savings for avoided adverse events (-£21.1 mln). In the base-case analysis, the two techniques had the same accuracy (number of correctly identified cases: 1.934 mln), but NBI was safer than HD-WLE. Budget impact analysis and cost-effectiveness analyses confirmed the findings of the cost-consequence analysis. In conclusion, NBI-guided targeted biopsies was a cost-saving strategy for NHS England, compared to current practice for detection of dysplasia in patients with BE, whilst maintaining at least comparable health outcomes for patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Barrett Esophagus / diagnostic imaging*
  • Barrett Esophagus / economics
  • Barrett Esophagus / pathology
  • Cost Savings
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Disease Progression
  • England
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / economics
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / prevention & control
  • Esophagoscopy / adverse effects
  • Esophagoscopy / economics*
  • Esophagoscopy / methods
  • Esophagus / diagnostic imaging
  • Esophagus / pathology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Image-Guided Biopsy / economics
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / adverse effects
  • Mass Screening / economics*
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Models, Economic
  • Narrow Band Imaging / adverse effects
  • Narrow Band Imaging / economics*
  • Narrow Band Imaging / methods
  • Precancerous Conditions / diagnostic imaging*
  • Precancerous Conditions / economics
  • Precancerous Conditions / pathology
  • State Medicine / economics
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

This study was funded by Olympus. ZI and RK are employees of Olympus. Olympus provided support in the form of salaries for authors ZI and RK, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section. GF and LH are employees of CBPartners. CBPartners provided support in the form of salaries for authors GF and LH, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.