Comparative cost-effectiveness of robot-assisted versus open prostatectomy: a real-life nationwide study.
To assess the long-term cost-effectiveness of robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) versus open radical prostatectomy (ORP) for localized prostate cancer from the perspective of the French public healthcare system using real-world data. This nationwide comparative cohort study used the French National Health Data System including men undergoing first prostatectomy between 2012 and 2015 with up to eight years follow-up. Patients were allocated to RARP or ORP based on hospital equipment. Inverse probability weighting using a high-dimensional propensity score adjusted for confounding. Outcomes included progression-free survival and direct medical costs. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were estimated with bootstrapping and acceptability curves. Sensitivity analyses incorporated additional robotic costs, and hospital volume. Among 27,951 patients, 10,040 underwent RARP and 17,911 ORP; median follow-up was 6.7 years. RARP was associated with lower total costs (€44,631 vs. €47,434) and slightly longer progression-free survival (+0.10 years), yielding a dominant profile. Cost savings reached €3,623 overall and were greatest in highvolume centers. The probability of cost-effectiveness exceeded 90% across thresholds. When robotic costs were included, RARP remained cost-effective, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios around €19,000-€25,000 per progression-free year depending on volume. RARP provides improved progression-free survival with reduced healthcare expenditures compared with ORP in France, resulting in a robust dominant or highly cost-effective profile over the long term. Findings were consistent across hospital volumes and sensitivity analyses. These real-world results support reassessment of reimbursement policies and suggest that wider adoption of RARP may deliver sustained clinical and economic value for the healthcare system overall.
Authors
Préaubert Préaubert, Bénard Bénard, Blin Blin, Jové Jové, Bladou Bladou, Piazza Piazza, Robert Robert
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