Introduction: The objective of the study was to evaluate the costs and benefits of early identification and treatment (within 24 hours of admission) of patients with aTTP in Colombia.
Methods: A cost-consequence analysis was conducted to evaluate the costs and health outcomes of diagnosis and early treament versus no treatment (scenario 1) and late treatment (scenario 2) in a hypothetical cohort of 100 patients with aTTP. The analysis perspective was that of the third-party payer.
Results: In scenario 1, he total cost of early treatment was USD$515,157 compared to USD$293,265 for no treatment. Early treatment avoided 65 deaths in the hypothetical cohort. The cost per death avoided was USD$3,414. In scenario 2, the cost of early treatment was USD$935,507 compared to USD$809,103 in the late start of treatment. By treating patients early, 33 deaths were avoided, 23 patients were estimated to be alive without exacerbations and 16 without relapses. The cost per death avoided was USD$3,879 and the cost per patient alive without exacerbations and relapses was USD$5,611 and USD$7,858, respectively.
Conclusions: The early identification and treatment of patients with aTTP are associated with benefits in survival and recurrence-free survival, and an incremental cost in the process of care compared to no treatment or late treatment.
Keywords: Acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura; Colombia; cost-consequences; diagnosis; plasm exchange; treatment.