Evaluating the Cost-Effectiveness of Chlorhexidine-Coated vs. Standard PICCs in Hematology Patients: A Health-Economic Analysis

This study assesses the cost-effectiveness of using chlorhexidine-coated peripheral insertion central catheters (AGBA PICC) versus the standard peripheral insertion central catheters (the standard PICC) in managing catheter-related complications among hematology patients. A decision-tree health-economic model was developed, incorporating quality-adjusted life years (QALY) derived from literature, as well as complication rates and per-patient costs from a randomized controlled trial. The base case incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was assessed against established willingness-to-pay thresholds. One-way sensitivity analyses addressed assumptions and uncertainties. The mean healthcare cost per patient of the standard PICC is RMB 21,987.32 (USD 3,242.82, at an average exchange rate of ¥678.03 = $100), affecting 0.68 QALYs in 90 days, and AGBA PICC is RMB 19,696.23 (USD 2,904.92), affecting 0.73 QALYs in 90 days, thus resulting in incremental costs of RMB 2,291.10 (USD 428.44). After the model’s simulation, the standard PICC gains -0.05 QALYs. The Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) for AGBA PICCs compared to standard PICCs is consistently centered at RMB 4,271.31 (USD 629.96). One-way sensitivity analyses of effectiveness and cost versus willingness to pay (WTP) confirmed the robustness of the model across various parameter changes, indicating that chlorhexidine-coated peripheral insertion central catheters could provide significant healthcare savings over a one-year period when adopted in routine chemotherapy treatment for hematology patients.