Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37072220›Full record

Trial reportNeurology2023

Cost-effectiveness of Prednisolone to Treat Bell Palsy in Children: An Economic Evaluation Alongside a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Xiuqin Xiong, Li Huang, David W Herd, Meredith L Borland, Andrew Davidson, Stephen Hearps, Mark T Mackay, Katherine J Lee, Stuart R Dalziel, Kim Dalziel and 2 more

Open access · greenAbstract readRandomized Controlled TrialEquivalence Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Neurology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 7 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Observational
  3. Development of algorithms for estimating the Child Health Utility 9D from Caregiver Priorities and Child Health Index of Life with Disability.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2024
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.

Xiuqin XiongFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Li HuangFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
David W HerdFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Meredith L BorlandFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-5326-5008
Andrew DavidsonFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Stephen HearpsFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-2984-1172
Mark T MackayFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Katherine J LeeFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Stuart R DalzielFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Kim DalzielFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
John A CheekFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-3615-3821
Franz E BablFrom the Centre for Health Policy (X.X., L.H., K.D.), Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Victoria; Emergency Department (D.H.), Queensland Children's Hospital; University of Queensland (D.W.H.); Mater Research Institute (D.H.), Brisbane, Queensland; Emergency Department (M.L.B.), Perth Children's Hospital; Divisions of Emergency Medicine and Paediatrics (M.B.), University of Western Australia, Perth; Department of Emergency Medicine (A.D., S.H., M.T.M., J.A.C., F.E.B.), Royal Children's Hospital; Murdoch Children's Research Institute (A.D., M.T.M., K.J.L., J.A.C., F.E.B., S.H.), Parkville, Victoria; Department of Anesthesia (A.D.), and Department of Neurology (M.T.M.), Royal Children's Hospital; Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit (K.J.L.), Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria; Department of Pediatrics (K.J.L.), Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Children's Emergency Department (S.R.D.), Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland; Departments of Surgery and Paediatrics: Child and Youth Health (S.R.D.), University of Auckland, New Zealand; and Departments of Paediatrics and Critical Care (J.A.C., F.E.B.), Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. franz.babl@rch.org.au.
Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service · AUThe University of Melbourne · AURoyal Children's Hospital · AUPrincess Margaret Hospital for Children · AUThe University of Queensland · AUUniversity of Auckland · NZ

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesBell 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.

methodsThis 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.

resultsThe 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.

Indexed as

Bell PalsyPrednisoloneAustraliaChildCost-Benefit AnalysisDrug Therapy, CombinationHumansPrednisolone

Identifiers

PMID37072220
PMCPMC10264054
OpenAlexW4366258450

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.