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Ana o 3 sIgE and diagnostic algorithms reduce overall cost of diagnosis of cashew allergy in children compared to skin prick test alone: a cost comparison analysis
  • +6
  • Tim Brettig,
  • Kim Dalziel,
  • Jennifer Koplin,
  • Thanh Dang,
  • Lars Lange,
  • Vicki McWillliam,
  • Sakura Sato,
  • Savvas Savvatianos,
  • Kirsten Perrett P
Tim Brettig
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
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Kim Dalziel
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
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Jennifer Koplin
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
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Thanh Dang
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
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Lars Lange
GFO Kliniken Bonn Betriebsstatte St Marien
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Vicki McWillliam
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
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Sakura Sato
Kokuritsu Byoin Kiko Sagamihara Byoin
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Savvas Savvatianos
Allergy Department 2nd Pediatric Clinic University of Athens Greece
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Kirsten Perrett P
Murdoch Children's Research Institute

Corresponding Author:kirsten.perrett@mcri.edu.au

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Abstract

Background: In the absence of a clear clinical history of reaction, diagnosis of cashew allergy using skin prick tests (SPT) or cashew-specific IgE requires a high number of oral food challenges (OFC). We recently showed that Ana o 3 sIgE alone, or a two-step diagnostic algorithm using cashew sIgE followed by Ana o 3 sIgE can reduce need for OFC. We aimed to determine if either of these approaches can provide a cost reduction to the health system compared to cashew SPT alone. Methods: Pooled individual level data from 6 studies was used to determine diagnostic accuracy and OFC rate. Two studies used cashew SPT (n=567, 198 allergic), with 95% positive and negative predictive values of ≥12mm and <3mm. Four studies were included in the pathways for Ana o 3 sIgE alone or a 2-step algorithm incorporating cashew and Ana o 3 sIgE (n=271, 156 allergic). Cut-offs used were ≥8.5kUA/L and ≤0.1kUA/L for cashew sIgE and ≥0.35kUA/L and ≤0.1kUA/L for Ana o 3 sIgE. Costs were constructed based on unit prices from hospital inpatient admissions, expenses incurred by families, individual patient data on allergic reaction types and rates and adrenaline autoinjector carriage, applying a health system perspective. Results: Modelled data through the Ana o 3 pathway resulted in a 46.43% cost reduction (\euro307,406/1000 patients) compared to using cashew SPT alone (\euro573,854/1000 patients). The 2-step algorithm resulted in a 44.94% cost reduction compared to SPT alone (\euro315,952.82/1000 patients). Both the Ana o 3 pathway and 2-step algorithm resulted in a 79-80% reduction in OFCs compared to SPT. Conclusions: Using Ana o 3 as a standalone test for cashew allergy diagnosis or a 2-step algorithm incorporating cashew sIgE and Ana o 3 sIgE is accurate and results in a large reduction in both OFCs and health system costs compared to cashew SPT alone.