Table 3.
Costs, Utilities, and Incremental Cost-Effectiveness of Treatment Strategies for Acute Otitis Media
| Variable | Delayed Prescription | Watchful Waiting | 7 to 10 Days of Amoxicillin | 5 Days of Amoxicillin |
| Cost, $ | ||||
| Non–health care | 12.78 | 14.52 | 15.10 | 15.47 |
| Work loss | 95.31 | 98.43 | 94.70 | 97.34 |
| Office consultation | 22.52 | 31.47 | 33.83 | 34.61 |
| Antibiotic | 1.68 | 1.47 | 11.61 | 9.42 |
| Mastoiditis | 0.11 | 0.11 | 0.06 | 0.06 |
| Total | 132.40 | 146.00 | 155.30 | 156.90 |
| Incremental cost, $ | – | 13.60 | 9.30 | 1.60 |
| Effectiveness, QALYs | 0.99460 | 0.99472 | 0.99501 | 0.99487 |
| Incremental effectiveness, QALYs | – | 0.00012 | 0.00029 | –0.00014 |
| Cost-effectiveness, $ per QALY | 133.12 | 146.77 | 156.08 | 157.71 |
| Incremental cost utility ratio, $ per QALY | – | Extended dominance* | 55,853 | Dominated† |
QALYs = quality-adjusted life-years.
Notes: Each column was compared with the one to its left. The incremental cost utility ratio of 7 to 10 days of amoxicillin was compared with delayed prescription.
* Watchful waiting was dominated by blend of delayed prescription and 7 to 10 days of amoxicillin.
† This option cost more and had less utility.