• C P Iglesias, E A Nelson, N Cullum, D J Torgerson, and VenUS I collaborators.
• Department of Health Sciences, Seebohm Rowntree Building (Area 4), University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK.
• Br J Surg. 2004 Oct 1; 91 (10): 1300-6.

BackgroundThe study investigated the cost-effectiveness of four-layer and short-stretch compression bandages for treating venous leg ulcers.MethodsCost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses were performed using patient-level data collected alongside the VenUS I leg ulcer study. The perspective for the economic analysis was that of the UK National Health Service (NHS) and Personal Social Service. The time horizon for the analysis was 1 year after recruitment. Health benefit was measured as differences in ulcer-free days and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).ResultsThe mean healing time for ulcers treated with four-layer bandages was 10.9 (95 per cent confidence interval (c.i.) -6.8 to 29.1) days less than that for ulcers treated with short-stretch bandages. Mean average difference in QALYs between compression systems was -0.02 (95 per cent c.i. -0.08 to 0.04). The four-layer bandage cost a mean of pound 227.32 (95 per cent c.i. pound 16.53 to pound 448 .30) less per patient per year than the short-stretch bandage.ConclusionOn average, four-layer bandaging was associated with greater health benefits and lower costs than short-stretch bandaging.Copyright (c) 2004 British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd

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