Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Rehabilitation Strategies for Patients After Prostate Cancer Surgery

Objective : To compare cost-effectiveness of rehabilitation models for patients with urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy. Materials and methods : We evaluated direct costs of rehabilitation as part of the existing approach in patients with urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy in the Yaroslavl Region and developed a rehabilitation strategy (artificial urethral sphincter placement). We conducted a comparative analysis of the direct costs of the strategies. Results : The use of absorbent products for rehabilitation of patients with urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy requires an average of 293300 (US $2650) per patient annually. The rehabilitation strategy with artificial urinary sphincter placement costs 486215 (US $4420) and results in a 65% increase in costs in the first year. However, in the second year of the rehabilitation program, artificial urinary sphincter placement has an obvious economic advantage, and within 10 years rehabilitation of a working-age patient using this strategy can save 2400000 (US $22244) (inflation expectations were not accounted for). Conclusions : The implementation of the rehabilitation program involving artificial urinary sphincter placement for patients with urinary incontinence following radical prostatectomy has significant social and economic impacts.