Cost-effectiveness of a novel hybrid closed-loop system compared with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion in people with type 1 diabetes in the UK

Aims The MiniMed 670 G insulin pump system is the first commercially available hybrid closed-loop (HCL) insulin delivery system and clinical studies have shown that this device is associated with incremental benefits in glycemic control relative to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) with or without continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). The aim was to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of the MiniMed 670 G system versus CSII alone in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the UK. Materials and methods Cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using the IQVIA CORE Diabetes Model. Clinical input data were sourced from a clinical trial of the MiniMed 670 G system in 124 adults and adolescents with T1D. The analysis was performed over a lifetime time horizon and both future costs and clinical outcomes were discounted at 3.5% per annum. The analysis was performed from a healthcare payer perspective. Results The use of the MiniMed 670 G system led to an improvement in quality-adjusted life expectancy of 1.73 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), relative to CSII. Total lifetime direct costs were GBP 35,425 higher with the MiniMed 670 G system than with CSII resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of GBP 20,421 per QALY gained. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the ICER was sensitive to assumptions around glycemic control and assumptions relating to the quality-of-life benefit associated with a reduction in fear of hypoglycemia. Limitations Long-term projections from short-term data are inherently associated with uncertainty but represent arguably the best available evidence in lieu of long-term clinical trials. Conclusions In the UK, over patient lifetimes, the incremental clinical benefits associated with the use of MiniMed 670 G system means that it is likely to be cost-effective relative to the continued use of CSII in people with T1D, particularly for those with a fear of hypoglycemia or poor baseline glycemic control.