Table 3

Mean (2.5–97.5 percentile) difference in costs (€, rounded to the nearest hundred) and QALY, and ICER with distribution in cost-effectiveness plane (%)

AnalysisOver 5 YearsTCZ + MTX vs MTXTCZ vs MTX
Base caseSocietal perspective#35,600 (18,700–52,200)5000 (–10,500 to 20,800)
QALY0.06 (–0.10 to 0.22)–0.03 (–0.20 to 0.13)
ICER#594,021–149,241
% (SE, SW, NW, NE)(0, 0, 23, 77)(8, 18, 47, 27)
Sensitivity analyses
Complete caseSocietal perspective#30,400 (9100–51,200)10,100 (–9900 to 29,700)
QALY0.01 (–0.14 to 0.16)–0.16 (–0.32 to 0.00)
ICER#3,586,015–64,263
% (SE, SW, NW, NE)(0, 0, 46, 54)(0, 16, 81, 3)
QALY +0.05 interventionSocietal perspective#35,600 (18,700 to 52,200)5000 (–10,500 to 20,800)
QALY0.12 (–0.04 to 0.28)0.02 (–0.14 to 0.19)
ICER#296,907194,208
% (SE, SW, NW, NE)(0, 0, 7, 93)(15, 11, 27, 47)
QALY –0.05 interventionSocietal perspective#35,600 (18,700 to 52,200)5000 (–10,500 to 20,800)
QALY0.00 (–0.16 to 0.16)–0.09 (–0.25 to 0.07)
ICER#–849,242,215–53,908
% (SE, SW, NW, NE)(0, 0, 50, 50)(3, 24, 63, 10)
Discounting 4% for costs and QALY Societal perspective#35,600 (18,700 to 52,200)5000 (–10,500 to 20,800)
QALY0.06 (–0.09 to 0.22)–0.03 (–0.18 to 0.13)
ICER#595,474–186,561
% (SE, SW, NW, NE)(0, 0, 22, 78)(9, 18, 45, 28)
Scenario analyses
TCZ-SCSocietal perspective#31,700 (14,900 to 48,000)–200 (–15,400 to 15,100)
QALY0.06 (–0.10 to 0.22)–0.03 (–0.20 to 0.13)
ICER#528,6554539
% (SE, SW, NW, NE)(0, 0, 23, 77)(16, 35, 30, 19)
TCZ-SC –10%Societal perspective#30,500 (13,700 to 46,800)–1700 (–16,700 to 13,400)
QALY0.06 (–0.10 to 0.22)–0.03 (–0.20 to 0.13)
ICER#508,80751,233
% (SE, SW, NW, NE)(0, 0, 23, 77)(19, 40, 26, 15)
TCZ-SC –30%Societal perspective#28,100 (11,400 to 44,500)–4,900 (–2000 to 9900)
QALY0.06 (–0.10 to 0.22)–0.03 (–0.20 to 0.13)
ICER#468,847145,244
% (SE, SW, NW, NE)(0, 0, 23, 77)(25, 49, 16, 10)
Subgroup DAS 28 > 5.1Societal perspective#34,400 (11,100 to 57,400)1,400 (–21,100 to 23,600)
QALY0.07 (–0.17 to 0.30)–0.01 (–0.25 to 0.24)
ICER#509,695–257,000
% (SE, SW, NW, NE)(0, 0, 29, 71)(21, 24, 28, 27)
  • Outcomes based on single imputation nested in 10,000 bootstraps; costs expressed in euros. TCZ + MTX: initiation of TCZ + MTX strategy group; TCZ: initiation of TCZ + placebo-MTX strategy group; MTX: initiation of MTX + placebo-TCZ strategy group. Societal perspective: direct healthcare costs + indirect nonhealthcare costs + productivity loss costs + medication costs.

  • #Using human capital approach. DAS28: Disease Activity Score in 28 joints; ICER: incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (using societal perspective according to human capital approach); QALY: quality-adjusted life-years; SE: southeast (gain in QALY, less expensive; i.e., TCZ dominant); SW: southwest (loss in QALY, less expensive); NW: northwest (loss in QALY, more expensive; i.e., TCZ inferior); NE: northeast (gain in QALY, more expensive); MTX: methotrexate; SC: subcutaneous; TCZ: tocilizumab.