Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42221738›Full record

ArticleClinicoEconomics and outcomes research : CEOR2026

Model-Based Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Routine Omega-3 Testing and Targeted Supplementation to Reduce Early Preterm Birth in Australia Compared with Current Practice.

Hossein Haji Ali Afzali, Ecushla Linedale, Craig Martin, Muktar Ahmed, Julie Quinlivan, Andrew J McPhee, Penelope Coates, Lucas Semmler, David Cox, Robert Alan Gibson and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in ClinicoEconomics and outcomes research : CEOR, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Hossein Haji Ali AfzaliSchool of Public Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-0198-8394
Ecushla LinedaleSchool of Public Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8635-6731
Craig MartinCommission on Excellence and Innovation in Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8596-6482
Muktar AhmedSchool of Public Health, Adelaide University, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-9524-7027
Julie QuinlivanInstitute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Western Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-4706-2412
Andrew J McPheeSAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3820-5696
Penelope CoatesChemical Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-7017-8056
Lucas SemmlerPublic Pathology Australia Incorporated, St Ives, NSW, Australia.
David CoxGenetics and Molecular Pathology, SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-6210-7311
Robert Alan GibsonSAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8750-525X
Maria Makrides *SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3832-541X
Karen P Best *SAHMRI Women and Kids, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-7653-5074

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Preterm birth remains a leading cause of newborn death, disability, and long-term health challenges globally, with a substantial impact on families, the health system, and society. Omega-3 supplementation in women with low omega-3 status in early pregnancy has been shown to reduce the risk of preterm birth, particularly early preterm birth (<34 weeks of gestation). The cost implications of incorporating omega-3 testing and targeted supplementation into routine antenatal care to reduce early preterm birth in Australia are unclear. Methods: A decision analytic model was developed using Australian epidemiological, clinical, and cost data to compare routine omega-3 testing and targeted supplementation with current practice. The model predicted the number of early preterm births prevented and associated cost savings over an 18-year time horizon. Deterministic sensitivity analyses were conducted to examine uncertainty in key model inputs. Results: Among 289,195 singleton pregnancies in 2022, an estimated 17.5% of women would have low omega-3 status and be eligible for supplementation. Making conservative assumptions, the model predicted that, relative to current practice, omega-3 testing and supplementation would be a dominant strategy, preventing 640 early preterm births, with projected savings of $26.1 million in direct healthcare costs. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the results were robust across most scenarios and identified the treatment effect estimate as the strongest driver of model predictions. Conclusion: Omega-3 testing in early pregnancy with targeted supplementation may offer a scalable and cost-effective strategy to reduce early preterm birth with potential benefits for mothers, infants, and the health system. The modelling suggests meaningful health and economic benefits. Cost savings were robust across most plausible scenarios, supporting the potential value of this approach on a national scale.

Indexed as

antenatal screeningcost-effectivenesshealth economicsmaternal nutritionomega-3 supplementationpregnancy carepreterm birth prevention

Identifiers

PMID42221738
PMCPMC13222048

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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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.