OBJECTIVES: Chronic wounds represent a significant clinical and economic burden as a major factor leading to limb- and life-threatening conditions in individuals. The monetary losses due to chronic wound complications in Bulgaria are expected to reach EUR 395 000 000. Dressings have a crucial role in the management of wound exudate as one of the main factors in disease progression. There is an unmet need globally for hydrophobic dressings which can handle moderate to severe levels of exudate for prolonged period.

METHODS: The economic analysis chosen for the evaluation of the medical device is cost-outcome analysis. Health benefits in the model are measured as 1% reduction in amputation rate. The time horizon is 1 year. The budget impact analysis is calculated for a 3-year time frame and includes the cost of treatment and the generated savings from avoided complications.

RESULTS: The results show the use of the medical device is cost-effective for the prolonged treatment of patients with chronic wounds with moderate to severe levels of exudate (ACER = EUR 7500 for 1% for reduction in amputation rate with a favourable cost-effectiveness threshold of EUR 39 039). The cost of treatment for the population reaches EUR 4 100 000 and the generated savings - EUR 2 200 000 which results in net budget impact of EUR 1 900 000.

CONCLUSIONS: The use of hydrophobic dressings can result in significant improvement in QoL in patients with chronic wounds with moderate or high levels of exudate by reducing the amputations rate by 50% and the disease relapse during the first year by 57%.