This study examined the cost effectiveness of a 6-day course of low-dose prednisolone at the time of a respiratory infection for treating children with steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome and found that it is the preferred option when compared with placebo.

The high hospital costs and reduced health-related quality of life associated with a relapse, combined with the low cost of prednisolone, were the main reasons for this result.

This study raises an interesting question on how to interpret economic evidence when it is at odds with the clinical-effectiveness evidence from the same trial.