Cost-effectiveness of Prednisolone to Treat Bell Palsy in Children

Background and Objectives Bell palsy is the third most frequent diagnosis in children with sudden-onset neurologic dysfunction. The cost-effectiveness of treating Bell palsy with prednisolone in children is unknown. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of prednisolone in treating Bell palsy in children compared with placebo.

Methods This economic evaluation was a prospectively planned secondary analysis of a double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled superiority trial (Bell Palsy in Children [BellPIC]) conducted from 2015 to 2020. The time horizon was 6 months since randomization. Children aged 6 months to <18 years who presented within 72 hours of onset of clinician-diagnosed Bell palsy and who completed the trial were included (N = 180). Interventions were oral prednisolone or taste-matched placebo administered for 10 days. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio comparing prednisolone with placebo was estimated. Costs were considered from a health care sector perspective and included Bell palsy–related medication cost, doctor visits, and medical tests. Effectiveness was measured using quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) based on Child Health Utility 9D. Nonparametric bootstrapping was performed to capture uncertainties. Prespecified subgroup analysis by age 12 to <18 years vs <12 years was conducted.

Results The mean cost per patient was A$760 in the prednisolone group and A$693 in the placebo group over the 6-month period (difference A$66, 95% CI −A$47 to A$179). QALYs over 6 months were 0.45 in the prednisolone group and 0.44 in the placebo group (difference 0.01, 95% CI −0.01 to 0.03). The incremental cost to achieve 1 additional recovery was estimated to be A$1,577 using prednisolone compared with placebo, and cost per additional QALY gained was A$6,625 using prednisolone compared with placebo. Given a conventional willingness-to-pay threshold of A$50,000 per QALY gained (equivalent to US$35,000 or £28,000), prednisolone is very likely cost-effective (probability is 83%). Subgroup analysis suggests that this was primarily driven by the high probability of prednisolone being cost-effective in children aged 12 to <18 years (probability is 98%) and much less so for those <12 years (probability is 51%).

Discussion This provides new evidence to stakeholders and policymakers when considering whether to make prednisolone available in treating Bell palsy in children aged 12 to <18 years.

Trial Registration Information Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12615000563561.