Table 3

 Comparison of cost effectiveness studies of augmentation therapy for AAT deficiency

StudyNatural historyAugmentation cost/year (US$)Utility weightMethod of calculationOutcome indicesMajor conclusionsSensitivity analysis
Utility weight adjusts measure of quality based on impact of disease and ranges from 0 (health state equivalent to death) to 1 (perfect health).
DEALE  =  declining exponential approximation of life expectancy: life expectancy is inverse of mortality at 1 year (mortality  =  −(1/t) × ln (survival at time t)); CLYS  =  cost per life-year saved; ICLYS  =  incremental cost per life-year saved; QALY  =  quality adjusted life-year; ICER  =  incremental cost effectiveness ratio (US$ per QALY).
Hayet al21Larrson2330 000 (1990 $)Arbitrary: 0.75Life expectancy: natural history data Outcome efficacy: hypothetical (0–100%)CLYSAt 30% efficacy the CLYS would be $50 000–128 000 and comparable to other medical interventionsOutcomes most sensitive to efficacy and treatment cost assumptions
Alkinset al.19NHLBI Registry751 948 (1998 $)Not included: 1Life expectancy: DEALE Outcome efficacy: 55% (based on Registry data)ICLYS: at 55% efficacy the ICLYS for subjects with FEV1 <50% would be $13 971Outcomes most sensitive to efficacy and, to a lesser degree, treatment cost assumption
Gildeaet al20NHLBI Registry754 765 (2001 $)Expert opinion based on COPD stage:Stage I: 0.93 Stage II: 0.75 Stage III: 0.26Markov analytical model validated using NHLBI Registry dataQALY, ICERICER for lifetime treatment per QALY gained is $312 511No assumption decreased ICER to less than $100 000 unless augmentation cost reduced to $14 000