Quality of Life Gain After Septorhinoplasty: An Analysis of Health Utility and Cost Utility Values Associated with Septorhinoplasty

Abstract

Purpose

Septorhinoplasty is a common procedure performed in rhinology and facial plastic surgery. Despite this, the health benefits associated with the procedure remain controversial. In this study, a health utility assessment of patients undergoing septorhinoplasty was performed. Health gains associated with the procedure, and the cost at which they were acquired, were also determined.

Methods

Sixty-seven patients undergoing septorhinoplasty at a German tertiary-level hospital were included in the study. Study participants completed the Short Form 36 (SF-36) and satisfaction questionnaires before and 12 months after septorhinoplasty. The Short Form six-dimensional (SF-6D) instrument was used to acquire quality-adjusted life year (QALY) values from SF-36 responses, thus allowing estimation of pre- and post-operative health utilities. Health utility gains after septorhinoplasty were determined and combined with cost data to estimate cost per QALY gained.

Results

Patients undergoing septorhinoplasty reported mean pre-operative health utility values of 0.70 pre-operatively and 0.74 post-operatively resulting in health gains of 0.04 QALYs. Patients satisfied with their procedures had significant health utility gains, while dissatisfied patients did not experience any significant gains. The cost of septorhinoplasty to statutory health insurance was €3487.69. When compared to the baseline, the incremental utility ratio for septorhinoplasty was €94,797.30 per QALY gained.

Conclusions

This study successfully estimated the health utilities and gains associated with septorhinoplasty. The findings indicate that the procedure has associated health gains but at a high cost–utility ratio. These values provide a reference point for further much-needed economic evaluations.

Level of Evidence IV

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