Cost-effectiveness of Mepitel Film for prevention of acute radiation dermatitis in breast cancer patients in Canada

While randomized clinical trials confirmed superiority of Mepitel Film (MF) in reducing acute radiation dermatitis (ARD) compared to standard of care (SoC; moisturizers), the cost-effectiveness is not clear. A decision model was constructed to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis for MF compared to SoC for prevention of grade 2 or higher ARD following adjuvant hypofractionated whole-breast radiotherapy, based on a Canadian multicenter trial and on direct and indirect cost data from two oncology centers in Canada. Base case analysis demonstrated that MF is cost-effective in preventing grade 2 or higher ARD as compared with SoC, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of Canadian dollar (CAD) 3366 per QALY gained. When indirect costs were included, MF resulted in an ICER of CAD 2823 per QALY gained. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis confirmed that MF demonstrates 100% probability of cost-effectiveness at a CAD 50,000 per QALY willigness-to-pay threshold. The authors conclude that MF is a cost-effective intervention for preventing high-grade ARD and should be recommended for patients with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant RT.