COST EFFECTIVENESS OF FENOFIBRATE FOR SLOWING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY PROGRESSION IN VIETNAM
Author(s)
Toi Lam Phung, PhD, MD1, Nhi Thi Ngoc Ngo, BPharm2, Usa Chaikledkaew, PhD2, Kyoo Kim, PhD3.
1Lecturer, Vietnam National University, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 2Mahidol University Health Technology Assessment (MUHTA) Graduate Program, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, 3Abbott Products Operations AG, Allschwil, Switzerland.
1Lecturer, Vietnam National University, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hanoi, Viet Nam, 2Mahidol University Health Technology Assessment (MUHTA) Graduate Program, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand, 3Abbott Products Operations AG, Allschwil, Switzerland.
OBJECTIVES: Evidence from the LENS trial showed that fenofibrate reduced diabetic retinopathy progression in early diabetic eye disease. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of fenofibrate for slowing diabetic retinopathy progression in Vietnam from governmental and societal perspectives.
METHODS: A model based economic evaluation was conducted using a Markov model to simulate diabetic retinopathy progression over 10 years in a hypothetical cohort of patients with diabetes in Vietnam. Annual transition probabilities were derived from the LENS trial, while cost and utility inputs were obtained from relevant Vietnamese literature.
RESULTS: From the societal perspective, fenofibrate increased mean quality adjusted life years (QALY) by 0.30 and increased direct medical costs by VND 25.7 million versus standard care, resulting in an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of VND 84.5 million per QALY. From the governmental perspective, the ICER was VND 114.1 million per QALY gained. Both values were below the willingness to pay threshold of one timegross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Vietnam, approximately VND 125.5 million per QALY gained. Cost offsets were observed through lower costs related to advanced diabetic retinopathy, including ophthalmology visits and laser treatment. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis supported the base case findings, with a mean ICER of VND 85.4 million per QALY gained.
CONCLUSIONS: Fenofibrate is likely to be a cost effective intervention for slowing diabetic retinopathy progression among Vietnamese patients with diabetes.
METHODS: A model based economic evaluation was conducted using a Markov model to simulate diabetic retinopathy progression over 10 years in a hypothetical cohort of patients with diabetes in Vietnam. Annual transition probabilities were derived from the LENS trial, while cost and utility inputs were obtained from relevant Vietnamese literature.
RESULTS: From the societal perspective, fenofibrate increased mean quality adjusted life years (QALY) by 0.30 and increased direct medical costs by VND 25.7 million versus standard care, resulting in an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of VND 84.5 million per QALY. From the governmental perspective, the ICER was VND 114.1 million per QALY gained. Both values were below the willingness to pay threshold of one timegross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Vietnam, approximately VND 125.5 million per QALY gained. Cost offsets were observed through lower costs related to advanced diabetic retinopathy, including ophthalmology visits and laser treatment. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis supported the base case findings, with a mean ICER of VND 85.4 million per QALY gained.
CONCLUSIONS: Fenofibrate is likely to be a cost effective intervention for slowing diabetic retinopathy progression among Vietnamese patients with diabetes.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-09, ISPOR Asia Pacific 2026, Bangkok, Thailand
Value in Health, Volume 55, Issue S1
Code
EE8
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Disease
SDC: Diabetes/Endocrine/Metabolic Disorders (including obesity), SDC: Sensory System Disorders (Ear, Eye, Dental, Skin)