OBJECTIVES: The cost-effectiveness of Premature Infant Oral Motor Intervention (PIOMI) in treating Preterm Infants (PI) in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is unknown. Of interest are the possible economic implications of using it as standard treatment. This study evaluated the costs and effectiveness of this care.

METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) of PIOMI vs. traditional PI care was performed in a cohort of PI treated in a NICU in Barranquilla (Colombia). Direct costs of care were estimated from a third payer perspective. Weight gain and hospital stay were the measures of effectiveness. Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (CER) for each alternative and Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) were estimated. Costs were expressed in 2022 US Dollars (USD).

RESULTS: The average cost of stay with PIOMI was USD 7.118,49 (SD: 5.347,10) and with traditional treatment, USD 10.322,04 (SD: 8.859,82). The average length of stay for PIOMI was 20.55 days (SD: 13.31) versus 29.00 (SD: 22.73). The average weight gain was higher in those treated with IMO-RNPT (1.05 oz - SD: 66.38 vs. 0.81 oz - SD: 95.12). The RCEI was USD -12,012,58 per oz-day of weight gained.

CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness indicator (average weight gain) was higher, and the average costs per patient were slightly lower in patients with PIOMI, meant a better cost-effectiveness ratio of this treatment strategy. Simulation of different scenarios in which the cost of professional fees and length of stay in the NICU increased or decreased by 15% and 30% showed that PIOMI is the dominant alternative.