Smith & Nephew plc has announced the publication of a study in which its ACTICOAT™ Antimicrobial Barrier Dressing with nanocrystalline silver was estimated in a health economic model to save costs compared with other silver dressings in the management of partial thickness burns.
The “Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Silver Delivery Approaches in the Management of Partial-thickness Burns1” study comprises a cost-effectiveness analysis of four commonly used silver dressings on patients with partial thickness burns and a total body surface area affected less than 20%.
The economic model, developed from the US healthcare payer perspective is based on data derived from an indirect treatment comparison and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies.
It compares incidence of infections, surgical procedures, length of stay and quality-adjusted life years for each dressing based on a sample of 1873 patients derived from multiple studies.
Incidence of infections were estimated to be lower when using ACTICOAT compared with other silver dressings. Estimated number of surgical procedures was also lower with ACTICOAT, and estimated cost of treatment was lowest with ACTICOAT compared with other silver dressings.
“This robust economic evaluation based on the findings of a systematic review illustrates the cost effectiveness of ACTICOAT compared to alternative commonly used silver-based antimicrobials in the management of partial thickness burns,” said Dr Andy Weymann, chief medical officer, Smith & Nephew. “It highlights that treatment with ACTICOAT results in better outcomes and helps reduce the human and economic cost of wounds.”
