Curosurf surfactant application on preterm babies with respiratory complications-health-economic benefits

Abstract

Background: The implementation of surfactant for respiratory syndrome approbates the therapy as a revolutionary method in
intensive neonatal therapy and respiratory resuscitation. It is important to investigate the costs of this treatment.

Objective: The aim of the study is to analyze the data by the application of the surfactant Curosurf to preterm babies with
respiratory complications and describe the treatment costs, healthcare resource utilization and evaluate economic benefits of
surfactant use in the treatment of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and hyaline-membrane disease (HDM).

Methods: A retrospective survey was performed covering 167 babies based on respiratory complications due to preterm birth
and the necessity to apply a surfactant therapy. A documentary method was implemented and for each patient, an individual
research protocol was filled out - a questionnaire created specifically for the purposes of the study.

Results and discussion: An analysis of the data from the application of CUROSURF was made and the obtained therapeutic
results were compared to expenditures for the therapy, short-term therapeutic effect, benefits and consequences of the therapy
of preterm newborns with respiratory complications. The application of CUROSURF to babies with RDS resulted in the realization
of net savings due to the elimination of the necessity of conducting several diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as well
as their duration reduction of hospital stay, thus defining its health-economic benefits.

Conclusions: The models of evaluation of cost effectiveness reveal that the medicinal product is expensive but effective from
the aspect of short-term therapeutic results.

Keywords: Surfactant; CUROSURF; preterm babies; respiratory complications; health-economic benefits.