Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Impact of Emerging Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatments for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Surgery: A Snapshot of Trends, Costs, and Surgical Retreatment Rates in the USA

BACKGROUND

An increasing number of novel surgical treatments (NSTs) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) have been proposed over time to achieve similar functional outcomes, but better perioperative and sexual outcomes than traditional procedures.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the trends in the utilization and costs of BPH surgical procedures over the past decade, and to analyze the need for surgical retreatment after each procedure.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

A retrospective observational population-based analysis was conducted using the PearlDiver Mariner (PearlDiver Technologies, Colorado Springs, CO, USA) database, including all-payer nationally available claims records collected from 2011 to 2022.

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The number and type of BPH surgical procedures per year, costs associated with each BPH surgical treatment, incidence of BPH surgical retreatment rate, and time to BPH surgical retreatment were assessed. Negative binomial regression and Cochran-Armitage test were used for the temporal trend analysis. A multivariable logistic regression analysis evaluated the predictors of BPH surgical retreatment.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

In the study period, 274 808 patients received surgical treatment for BPH. The most common procedure was transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP; 71.7%). The overall utilization of BPH surgical treatment increased over the study period. Traditional surgery remained most performed for the entire period (87.8%), but a statistically significantly rising trend of NSTs was recorded. The mean reimbursements paid per procedure was 1.43 times higher (p < 0.001) for NSTs than for traditional procedures. The surgical retreatment rate was 9.4%. The mean time to surgical retreatment was 25.3 mo, with 85.5% of cases re-treated within 5 yr. At the multivariable analysis, transurethral incision of the prostate, photoselective vaporization of the prostate, prostatic urethral lift, convective water vapor energy, and prostatic artery embolization had a significantly greater likelihood of surgical retreatment than TURP. Holmium/thulium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP/ThuLEP), open simple prostatectomy (SP), and laparoscopic/robot-assisted SP were associated with a lower probability of resurgery than TURP, but a similar probability between these procedures. Retrospective design and a lack of relevant clinical data were the main limitations.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the past decade, there has been a progressive increase in the adoption of NSTs. The rate of surgical retreatment appears <10%, with patients undergoing SP and HoLEP/ThuLEP experiencing a statistically significantly lower probability of surgical retreatment.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We investigated the trends, costs, and surgical retreatments of benign prostatic hyperplasia surgery. Transurethral resection of the prostate remains the most common procedure. Novel surgical treatments are associated with an upward trend, despite appearing more expensive overall. Retreatment is necessary in <10% of patients and generally within 5 yr.

One-year outcomes after prostate artery embolization versus laser enucleation: A network meta-analysis

Background

Although holmium laser enucleation (HoLEP) is considered a size-independent procedure for treatment of an enlarged prostate, prostate artery embolization (PAE) is emerging as an alternative modality to treat moderate and large benign prostatic hyperplasia. This study aims to compare the early post-operative and short-term efficacy of PAE and HoLEP.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases were searched. Network meta-analysis was performed following PRISMA-N-guidelines. Post-operative parameters analysed include international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QOL), post-void residual urine (PVR), maximal uroflow rate (Qmax) and serious adverse events (SAE). Random effects model calculated weighted mean differences (WMD). If 95%CI crossed the line of no effect (WMD = 0), evidence indicated no statistically significant difference between treatments compared.

Results

Qualitative and quantitative syntheses included 20 and 18 studies with 1991 and 1606 patients, respectively. At 3 months, there was no statistically significant difference between PAE and HoLEP in IPSS score improvement [WMD: -2.21: 95%CI: (-10.20, 5.78), favouring PAE], QoL score improvement [WMD: -0.22:95%CI: (-1.75, 1.32), favouring PAE] and PVR improvement [WMD: 26.97: 95%CI: (-59.53, 113.48), favouring HoLEP]. However, PAE was found inferior to HoLEP for Qmax improvement [WMD: 8.47, 95%CI: (2.89, 14.05), favouring HoLEP]. At 1-year follow-up, there was no statistically significant was found between PAE and HoLEP for IPSS score improvement [WMD:6.03, 95%CI: (-1.30, 13.35)], QoL score improvement [WMD: 0.03, 95%CI: (-1.19, 1.25)], PVR improvement [WMD:4.11, 95%CI: (-32.31, 40.53)] and Qmax improvement [WMD:2.60, 95%CI: (-2.20, 7.41)] with all differences favouring HoLEP. PAE was superior to HoLEP for SAE [PAE vs. HoLEP-OR: 0.68, 95%CI: (0.25, 1.37)].

Conclusion

HoLEP was superior to PAE at 3 months for Qmax improvement. There was no significant difference in IPSS, QoL, PVR and Qmax improvement at 1 year between PAE and HoLEP. PAE was also associated with lesser SAE compared to HoLEP. Studies on the long-term outcome of PAE are needed to establish the durability of early outcomes after PAE.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of minimally invasive surgical treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia: implications for Japan's public healthcare system

AIMS

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) represents a significant public health issue in Japan. This study evaluated the lifetime cost-effectiveness of water vapor energy therapy (WAVE) versus prostatic urethral lift (PUL) for men with moderate-to-severe BPH from a public healthcare payer's perspective in Japan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A decision analytic model compared WAVE to PUL among males in Japan. Clinical effectiveness and adverse event (AE) inputs were obtained from a systematic literature review. Resource utilization and cost inputs were derived from the Medical Data Vision database and medical service fee national data in Japan. Experts reviewed and validated model input parameters. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine how changes in the values of uncertain parameters affect the model results.

RESULTS

Throughout patients' lifetimes, WAVE was associated with higher quality-adjusted life years (0.920 vs. 0.911 year 1; 15.564 vs. 15.388 lifetime) and lower total costs (¥734,134 vs. ¥888,110 year 1; ¥961,595 vs. ¥1,429,458 lifetime) compared to PUL, indicating that WAVE is a more effective and less costly (i.e. dominant) treatment strategy across all time horizons. Lifetime cost-savings for the Japanese healthcare system per patient treated with WAVE instead of PUL were ¥467,863. The 32.7% cost difference between WAVE and PUL was predominantly driven by lower WAVE surgical retreatment rates (4.9% vs. 19.2% for WAVE vs PUL, respectively, at 5 years) and AE rates (hematuria 11.8% vs. 25.7%, dysuria 16.9% vs. 34.3%, pelvic pain 2.9% vs. 17.9%, and urinary incontinence 0.4% vs. 1.3% for WAVE vs PUL, respectively, at 3 months). Model findings were robust to changes in parameter input values.

LIMITATIONS

The model represents a simplification of complex factors involved in resource allocation decision-making.

CONCLUSIONS

Driven by lower retreatment and AE rates, WAVE was a cost-effective and cost-saving treatment for moderate-to-severe BPH in Japan compared to PUL, providing better outcomes at lower costs to the healthcare system.

Retreatment rates and postprocedural complications are higher than expected after BPH surgeries: a US healthcare claims and utilization study

BACKGROUND

Up to 50% of men over 50 and 80% over 80 are affected by BPH. Shared decision-making regarding BPH treatment options can benefit from an improved understanding of relative risks and benefits for various treatments.

METHODS

Data for this longitudinal retrospective population-based cohort study were obtained from a random sample of US Medicare and commercial claims (IBM Watson MarketScan) and restricted to men undergoing BPH surgery (TURP, PVP, PUL, WVTT) from 2015 to 2021 across all sites of service. Retreatments included Holmium laser enucleation and index procedures. Main outcomes were rates of retreatment and procedural complications over 1 year, identified via CPT and ICD-9/10CM codes. Procedural complications that occurred at least 1 day post-index treatment were assessed, as were surgical retreatments with patients who had at least 1 and 5 year's-worth of data. Baseline phenotype characterization did not control for symptomatology and was limited to age, comorbidities, and BMI. Univariate cumulative incidence estimates, cumulative proportion and log-rank tests justified inclusion for covariate (e.g., age, comorbidities) adjustment in Cox proportional hazard models.

RESULTS

43,147 men diagnosed with BPH underwent 22,629 TURP, 11,392 PVP, 7,529 PUL, and 1,597 WVTT. At 1-year post-index: PUL was associated with the lowest rate of complication (PUL 15%, TURP 17%; PVP 19%, ; WVTT 26%); retreatment rates were not different (TURP 5.3%, PVP 5.3%, PUL 5.9%, WVTT 6.2%). At 5 years post-index: retreatment was lowest for TURP (7.0%) and was not significantly different between PVP and PUL (8.9% and 11.6%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Real-world patients diagnosed with BPH may be selected to undergo one of the various available therapies based on patient preference or baseline phenotype. These therapies, however, are associated with different risks for complications. The results of this study suggest that within one year of BPH surgery, one-in-twenty patients may require retreatment regardless of treatment choice, and for some technologies as many as one-in-four may require treatment for a complication.

Cost-utility of minimally invasive therapies vs. pharmacotherapy as initial therapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia A Canadian healthcare payer perspective

INTRODUCTION

Recently, minimally invasive surgical therapies (MIST s) have become an alternative to surgery or pharmacotherapy to manage benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH ). This study evaluated the cost-utility of water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT ) and prostatic urethral lift (PUL) compared to pharmacotherapy as initial treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe BPH.

METHODS

In this model-based economic evaluation, we simulated BPH progression in men (mean age 65 years, average International Prostate Symptom Score 16.6) over their lifetime and estimated healthcare costs (from the Canadian healthcare payer perspective) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), discounted at 1.5% annually. In the model, men could receive up to three lines of therapy: 1) initial pharmacotherapy with MIST as second-line, and TURP or pharmacotherapy as third-line; 2) initial MIST (WVTT or PUL) with MIST again, TURP, or pharmacotherapy as second-line, and TURP as third-line. The model was populated using data from the published literature.

RESULTS

The expected lifetime QALYs and costs were 15.50 QALYs and $14 626 for initial treatment with WVTT, 15.35 QALYs and $11 795 for pharmacotherapy followed by WVTT, 15.29 QALYs and $13 582 for pharmacotherapy followed by PUL, and 15.29 QALYs and $19 151 for initial treatment with PUL. Strategies involving PUL procedures were dominated by strategies involving WVTT. The incremental cost per QALY gained was $18 873 for initial WVTT compared to initial pharmacotherapy followed by WVTT.

CONCLUSIONS

WVTT appears to be a cost-effective procedure and may be an appropriate first-line alternative to pharmacotherapy for patients with BPH and prostate volume less than 80 cm3 who seek faster improvement and no lifelong commitment to daily medications.

Budget impact analysis of transurethral water vapor therapy for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia in the Spanish national healthcare system

BACKGROUND

Several surgical treatments are available for managing lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (LUTS/BPH). Water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT) is a new minimally invasive therapy. This study estimates the budget impact of introducing WVTT for LUTS/BPH into the Spanish health care system.

METHODS

A model simulated the evolution of men over 45 years of age with moderate-severe LUTS/BPH after surgical treatment, over a 4-year time horizon, from the Spanish public health care service´s perspective. The technologies in scope included those most used in Spain: WVTT, transurethral resection (TURP), photoselective laser vapourization (PVP) and holmium laser enucleation (HoLEP). Transition probabilities, adverse events and costs were identified from the scientific literature and validated by a panel of experts. Sensitivity analyses were performed by varying the most uncertain parameters.

RESULTS

Per intervention, WVTT resulted in savings of €3,317, €1,933 and €2,661 compared to TURP, PVP and HoLEP. Over a 4-year time horizon, when performed in 10% of the cohort of 109,603 Spanish males with LUTS/BPH, WVTT saved €28,770,125 against the scenario without WVTT availability.

CONCLUSIONS

WVTT could reduce the cost of managing LUTS/BPH, increase the quality of health care and reduce the length of procedure and hospital stay.

Pharmacotherapy vs. minimally invasive therapies as initial therapy for moderate-to-severe benign prostatic hyperplasia: a cost-effectiveness study

BACKGROUND

Recently, minimally invasive therapies (MITs), such as water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT) and prostatic urethral lift (PUL) have become an alternative to surgery or pharmacotherapy to manage benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), offering symptom relief with a favorable safety profile. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-utility of MITs (WVTT and PUL) compared to pharmacotherapy as initial treatment for patients with moderate-to-severe BPH.

METHODS

In this model-based economic evaluation we simulated BPH progression in men (mean age 65 years, average International Prostate Symptom Score 16.6) over their lifetime and estimated healthcare costs (from the US public payer perspective) per quality-adjusted life year (QALY), discounted at 3% annually. Various clinical scenarios were evaluated given that most men undergo several lifelong therapies up to surgical intervention and potentially thereafter. As such, in the study model men could receive up to three lines of therapy: (1) initial pharmacotherapy with MIT as second-line, and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or pharmacotherapy as third-line; (2) initial MIT (WVTT or PUL) with MIT again, TURP or pharmacotherapy as second-line, and TURP as third-line. Model was populated using data from the published literature. Probabilistic analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Initial treatment with WVTT led to the highest QALYs (13.05) and the lowest cost ($15,461). The cumulative QALYs and lifetime costs were 12.92 QALYs and $20,280 for pharmacotherapy followed by WVTT, 12.87 QALYs and $22,424 for pharmacotherapy followed by PUL, 12.86 QALYs and $20,930 for initial treatment with PUL. In the cost-utility analysis, WVTT as initial treatment dominated all three strategies, i.e., generated more QALYs at a lower cost.

CONCLUSION

WVTT is an effective and cost-saving procedure, and may be an appropriate first-line alternative to pharmacotherapy for moderate-to-severe BPH patients who seek faster improvement and no lifelong commitment to daily medications.

Update on the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia and the role of minimally invasive procedures

Lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia constitute a substantial burden, affecting the quality of life of those affected by this condition. While watchful waiting and medical management using a wide array of pharmaceuticals can be effective, surgery has been one of the most definite solutions for those highly affected by this condition. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is the gold standard surgical procedure, but other alternatives using laser (HoLEP and ThuLEP) and robotic water jets (Aquablation) are emerging treatments aimed at reducing postoperative morbidity. Minimally invasive procedures conducted in outpatient settings and under local anesthesia or sedation are increasingly being used, especially in those patients with high surgical risk due to comorbidities. These procedures include prostatic arterial embolization, water vapor thermal therapy (Rezum), prostatic urethral lift (Urolift), temporary implantable nitinol device (TIND/iTIND), and transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT). The evidence supporting these treatments is growing, but some uncertainties remain as to what is the magnitude of their advantages and disadvantages compared to TURP. Innovations in the technologies involved in these new procedures may improve their profile for effectiveness and safety. Moreover, new devices are being investigated for marketing approval. Issues around costs and patients' preferences are also yet to be elucidated, thus their evolving role needs to be weighed against the aforementioned considerations.

Emerging outcomes of water vapor thermal therapy (Rezum) in a broad range of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia: A systematic review

Water vapor thermal therapy (Rezum) is a novel, minimally invasive surgical technology used to treat lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the latest efficacy and safety profile of Rezum in patients with LUTS secondary to BPH. PubMed/MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched, in accordance with the PRISMA statement, for relevant articles in the English language till 1 August 2021. Randomized and nonrandomized studies that evaluated urinary outcomes and/or adverse events were deemed eligible. Nineteen studies (N = 1942), published in 25 articles, were included. International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL), and maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) significantly improved as early as 1 month postoperatively and remained durable for up to 5 years. Significant median percent improvements in IPSS, QoL, and Qmax at 3 months were 51%, 51%, and 66%, respectively. Patients with obstructive median lobes, large prostates (>80 g), small prostates (<30 g), and urinary retention also experienced significant relief in LUTS, with 83% of urinary retention patients becoming catheter independent at a median of 14 days. Most adverse events were transient and nonserious and occurred in 0% to 76% of patients (median 29%), with de novo erectile dysfunction rates ranging between 0% and 3.1%. Surgical retreatment rate ranged between 4.4% and 7.5% at 5 years postoperatively. Rezum provides durable improvements in symptoms, irrespective of prostate volume and urinary retention status, and has low rates of sexual dysfunction.

Prostatic Artery Embolization for Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Markov Model-Based Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate whether prostatic artery embolization (PAE) can be considered a long-term cost-effective treatment option in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia in comparison to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

METHODS

The in-hospital costs of PAE and TURP in the United States were obtained from a recent cost analysis. Clinical outcomes including nature and rate of adverse events for TURP and PAE along with rates of retreatment because of complications or clinical failure were obtained from peer-reviewed literature. A decision tree-based Markov model was created, analyzing long-term cost-effectiveness for TURP and PAE from a US health care sector perspective. Cost-effectiveness over a time frame of 5 years was estimated while assuming a willingness to pay of $50,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). The primary outcome was incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.

RESULTS

PAE resulted in overall cost of $6,464.92 and an expected outcome of 4.566 QALYs. In comparison, TURP cost $9,221.09 and resulted in expected outcome of 4.577 QALYs per treatment. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for TURP was $247,732.65 per QALY. On the basis of the willingness-to-pay threshold, PAE is cost effective compared with TURP.

CONCLUSIONS

On the basis of our model, PAE in comparison with TURP can be regarded as a cost-effective treatment option for patients with lower urinary tract symptoms within the US health care system.