OP46 Cost Effectiveness Of Active Middle Ear Implant For Individuals With Untreated Sensorineural Hearing Loss In Brazil - Abstract - Healthcare Technology Assessment Study

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana

Study evaluates cost effectiveness of active middle ear implants (aMEI) for Brazilian adults with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) who cannot use conventional hearing aids for medical reasons and lack publicly financed options. A lifetime Markov model with cohort simulation was populated using a systematic review for complications and utilities, Brazilian procedure costs, and untreated SNHL costs from WHO with PPP adjustment. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses tested robustness. Base-case results show lower expected costs and higher quality-adjusted life years versus no treatment, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio within Brazil’s willingness-to-pay threshold.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

OP45 Adapting To Change – Horizon Scanning For New And Repurposed Medicines For Health Technology Assessment In The UK Sarah Khan ([sarah.khan@newcastle.ac.uk](sarah.khan@newcastle.ac.uk)), Sonia Garcia Gonzalez-Moral, Ross Fairbairn, Rhiannon Potter, Alex Inskip, Amy Hussain and Gill Norman Introduction: The Innovation Observatory (IO) uses horizon scanning (HS) for systematic identification of emerging medicines for the health technology assessment (HTA) process of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in the UK. The IO’s HS methods have evolved with the policy and demands of HTA for medicines. We reported the evolution of HS processes to facilitate NICE’s HTA process. Methods: The remit applied by the IO to identify relevant information has evolved to become inclusive of trials in Australia, Japan, New Zealand, and Singapore to accommodate changes in regulatory procedures in the UK. Novel processes have been introduced to gather information from additional sources since inception of the IO in 2017 . Semi-automation has been introduced alongside manual processes to gather, sift, and triangulate intelligence from several sources, to then populate a bespoke internal database called the Medicines Innovation Database (MInD) . Additionally, a bespoke live, confidential, and searchable dashboard was developed in 2019 to improve collaboration with NICE. Results: Initially, information was shared with NICE via an early awareness form, a filtration form, and then a technology briefing (TB). Since 2019, NICE receives monthly TBs along with a live dashboard. TBs are sent to NICE 24 months from estimated approval in the UK, which is the first step intheHTA process. Since inception of the IO in April 2017, over 1,200 TBs have been submitted to NICE to kickstart the HTA process. The live dashboard provides NICE with real-time information on medicines on record being monitored in MInD, allowing better transparency, efficiency, and resource planning. Conclusions: HS systems need to be systematic and agile, to allow adaptation to the needs of HTA stakeholders for timely decisionmaking regarding emerging medicines that might reach the market. The IO HS methods are a potential blueprint for constructing a robust and flexible early awareness system using HS to support HTA processes. Progressive additional automation will be supported imminently. OP46 Cost Effectiveness Of Active Middle Ear Implant For Individuals With Untreated Sensorineural Hearing Loss In Brazil Erica Aranha Suzumura, Bettina Schlick, Christina Schwarz, Thomas Dejaco and Michael Urban ([michael.urban@medel.com](michael.urban@medel.com)) Introduction: Individuals with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), who are unable to use conventional hearing aids (CHA) for medical reasons, have no publicly financed treatment options in Brazil. This study aimed to evaluate the cost effectiveness of active middle ear implants (aMEI) for Brazilian adults with this health condition. Methods: A Markov model with cohort simulation over lifetime was developed. To populate the model, a systematic review was conducted to identify implant-related complications and utilities. Cost of aMEI was based on the price proposed for public reimbursement. Pre-, peri-, and postoperative costs were obtained from the Brazilian public healthcare system list of procedures (SIGTAP) . Costs of untreated SNHL in Brazilian adults were obtained from the World Health Organization report (2015) and adjusted for 2024 BRL using purchasing power parities (PPP) for gross domestic product (GDP) . Probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were performed to evaluate the robustness of the results. Cost results were presented in 2024 BRL and USD (conversion using PPP for GDP) . Results: The base case result showed that, over a lifetime, the expected cost ofaMEI treatment was BRL62,177 (USD26,951), compared with BRL5,806(USD2,517)inan untreated adult. The expected quality-ad

FAQs

What population and treatment does the study address in Brazil?

The study focuses on Brazilian adults with moderate to severe SNHL who cannot use conventional hearing aids for medical reasons, comparing active middle ear implants (aMEI) against untreated SNHL.

How were costs and clinical inputs modeled?

A lifetime Markov model with cohort simulation was used. Implant complications and utilities came from a systematic review; costs were taken from Brazil’s procedure list (SIGTAP) and untreated SNHL costs from a WHO report, adjusted to 2024 BRL using PPP.

What do the base-case results indicate about cost effectiveness?

Over a lifetime, expected aMEI costs were substantially higher than untreated costs but associated with higher quality-adjusted life years (10.53 vs 9.03). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was BRL 37,699 (USD 16,341) per QALY gained and was considered cost effective under Brazil’s willingness-to-pay threshold.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Eliana