OBJECTIVES: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can be defined as an enlargement of the prostrate and it is a very prevalent condition affecting almost 90% of the men older than 80 years old. An enlarged prostate gland can cause uncomfortable urinary symptoms, such as blocking the flow of urine out of the bladder. Technologies using laser have emerged as an alternative to meet the challenges in treating BPH patients with efficacy and safety superior to the Transurethral Resection of the Prostrate (TURP), the current gold standard. This analysis aims to evaluate the economic impact of Laser Photovaporization of the Prostrate (PVP) in the treatment of BPH within the Brazilian health private sector.

METHODS: This study carried out a cost-minimization analysis using a decision tree model to compare PVP to TURP. This economic evaluation also included a subgroup analysis of patients with higher surgical risk (higher risk of bleeding due to the use of anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapies).

RESULTS: The incorporation of PVP for the surgical treatment of BPH both in patients with higher medical risk and patients with no risk restriction is cost-saving, resulting in savings higher than US$ 4 thousand and near US$ 1 thousand respectively per treated patient. In the sensitivity analysis, the variable with higher influence in the results was the length of stay that is greatly correlated to the intercurrences caused by bleeding and other adverse events. Further, the budgetary impact analysis showed savings of over US$ 13 million for the 5-year time horizon considering that high-risk patients and US$ 8 million for patients with no risk restriction.

CONCLUSIONS: This analysis demonstrated PVP é a cost saving alternative to the current gold-standard in the treatment of low urinary tract symptoms related to BPH in the Brazilian private health sector.