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Thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin: economic considerations

Mätzsch, Thomas LU (2000) In Haemostasis 30(Suppl. 2). p.141-145
Abstract
Postoperative thromboembolic events are a major cost factor for every healthcare system. Although thromboprophylaxis carries its own costs, the application of a thromboprophylactic regimen is cost-effective in most instances, at least in high-risk patients. A regimen of general postoperative prevention of deep vein thrombosis is always more cost-effective than surveillance programmes with treatment after diagnosis, and is almost always more cost-effective than no prophylaxis. For patients with a high risk of postoperative thromboembolism, such as after orthopaedic surgery, low-molecular-weight heparins have a rather clear advantage over prophylaxis with unfractionated heparin and warfarin, also in terms of cost- effectiveness. With regard... (More)
Postoperative thromboembolic events are a major cost factor for every healthcare system. Although thromboprophylaxis carries its own costs, the application of a thromboprophylactic regimen is cost-effective in most instances, at least in high-risk patients. A regimen of general postoperative prevention of deep vein thrombosis is always more cost-effective than surveillance programmes with treatment after diagnosis, and is almost always more cost-effective than no prophylaxis. For patients with a high risk of postoperative thromboembolism, such as after orthopaedic surgery, low-molecular-weight heparins have a rather clear advantage over prophylaxis with unfractionated heparin and warfarin, also in terms of cost- effectiveness. With regard to moderate-risk patients, such as after general surgery, the economic benefits are less clear. However, since the results of economic analyses are heavily dependent on the healthcare system, and since there are methodological difficulties and uncertainties connected with the analyses, the implications are difficult -- if not impossible -- to generalize. There is an urgent need for further prospective studies, which should be performed with defined economic variables a priori and in close cooperation with health economists. (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Haemostasis
volume
30
issue
Suppl. 2
pages
141 - 145
publisher
Karger
external identifiers
  • pmid:11251359
  • scopus:0034461644
ISSN
0301-0147
DOI
10.1159/000054181
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Emergency medicine/Medicine/Surgery (013240200)
id
3a87b94a-5f3d-4d41-95ba-8659bc17e0c7 (old id 1117471)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:05:06
date last changed
2022-01-28 17:11:45
@article{3a87b94a-5f3d-4d41-95ba-8659bc17e0c7,
  abstract     = {{Postoperative thromboembolic events are a major cost factor for every healthcare system. Although thromboprophylaxis carries its own costs, the application of a thromboprophylactic regimen is cost-effective in most instances, at least in high-risk patients. A regimen of general postoperative prevention of deep vein thrombosis is always more cost-effective than surveillance programmes with treatment after diagnosis, and is almost always more cost-effective than no prophylaxis. For patients with a high risk of postoperative thromboembolism, such as after orthopaedic surgery, low-molecular-weight heparins have a rather clear advantage over prophylaxis with unfractionated heparin and warfarin, also in terms of cost- effectiveness. With regard to moderate-risk patients, such as after general surgery, the economic benefits are less clear. However, since the results of economic analyses are heavily dependent on the healthcare system, and since there are methodological difficulties and uncertainties connected with the analyses, the implications are difficult -- if not impossible -- to generalize. There is an urgent need for further prospective studies, which should be performed with defined economic variables a priori and in close cooperation with health economists.}},
  author       = {{Mätzsch, Thomas}},
  issn         = {{0301-0147}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{Suppl. 2}},
  pages        = {{141--145}},
  publisher    = {{Karger}},
  series       = {{Haemostasis}},
  title        = {{Thromboprophylaxis with low-molecular-weight heparin: economic considerations}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000054181}},
  doi          = {{10.1159/000054181}},
  volume       = {{30}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}