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Palivizumab for Infants < 29 Weeks in Hong Kong without a Clear-Cut Season for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection—A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Aim
To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of palivizumab prophylaxis for premature infants born <29 weeks in Hong Kong.


Method
We evaluated the hospitalization rate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection within the first 12 months of discharge of a cohort of preterm infants born between 2010 and 2014 at two local hospitals.


Results
In total, 40 of 135 infants were given palivizumab. The hospitalization rate for premature infants <29 weeks was reduced from 15.8 to 5% (p = 0.096) and that for infants <27 weeks was reduced from 33.3 to 8.7% (p = 0.046). In the former group, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio per hospital admission prevented (ICER/HAP) was US dollar (USD) 24 365. In the latter subgroup, the ICER/HAP was USD 3108.


Conclusion
The cost-effectiveness as measured for infants <27 weeks is more favorable than that for infants <29 weeks.