Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Hearing Aids for Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective To assess the cost-effectiveness of hearing aid interventions to middle-aged and older adults in rural China. Study Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Community centers. Patients A total of 385 subjects 45 years and older with moderate or above hearing loss participated in the trial, of which 150 were in the treatment group and 235 in the control group. Intervention Participants were randomly assigned to the treatment group prescribing with hearing aids or to the control group with no intervention. Main Outcome and Measures The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated by comparing the treatment group with the control group. Results Assuming that the average life span of hearing aids is N years, the cost of the hearing aid intervention included the annual purchase cost of 10,000/N yuan, the annual maintenance cost of 41.48 yuan. However, the intervention led to annual healthcare costs of 243.34 yuan saved. The effectiveness of wearing a hearing aid included an increase of 0.017 quality-adjusted life years. It can be calculated that if N > 6.87, the intervention is very cost-effective; if 2.52 < N < 6.87, the increased cost-effectiveness of the intervention is acceptable; if N < 2.52, the intervention is not cost-effective. Conclusion In general, the average life span of hearing aids is between 3 and 7 years, so hearing aid interventions can be considered cost-effective with high probability. Our results can provide critical reference for policy makers to increase accessibility and affordability of hearing aids.