Key result
Herbal medicines for idiopathic short stature cost ~$56 to $114 per cm of height growth.
Why the study?
Herbal medicines have been used to treat idiopathic short stature in children, but their cost-effectiveness has not been analyzed.
Are herbal medicines cost-effective for improving height in children with idiopathic short stature?
Observational
No
Are herbal medicines cost-effective for improving height in children with idiopathic short stature?
Herbal medicines may offer an economical alternative treatment for idiopathic short stature in children, with varying cost-effectiveness profiles among different formulations.
BACKGROUND: Herbal medicines have been used for a long time to treat idiopathic short stature (ISS) in children in East Asian countries. The aim of this study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of 5 herbal medicines frequently used in clinical settings for children with ISS based on medical records. METHODS: Patients with ISS who had been prescribed a 60-day supply of herbal medicines in 1 Korean medicine hospital were included in this analysis. Their height and height percentile were measured before and after treatment within 6-months. The average cost-effectiveness ratios (ACERs) of 5 herbal medicines for height (cm) and height percentile were calculated for boys and girls, respectively. RESULTS: The ACERs per 1 cm height growth were USD 56.2 (Naesohwajung-Tang), USD 74.8 (Ogapi-Growth decoction), USD 86.6 (Gamcho-Growth decoction), USD 94.6 (Gwakhyangjeonggi-San plus Yukmijihwang-Tang), and USD 113.8 (Boyang-Growth decoction). The ACERs per 1 percentile height growth were USD 205 (Naesohwajung-Tang), USD 293 (Ogapi-Growth decoction), USD 470 (Gamcho-Growth decoction), USD 949 (Boyang-Growth decoction), and USD 1051 (Gwakhyangjeonggi-San plus Yukmijihwang-Tang). CONCLUSION: Herbal medicine might be a potential economical alternative treatment for ISS.
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Jang et al. (2023) conducted an observational in Idiopathic short stature (ISS). Herbal medicines was evaluated on Average cost-effectiveness ratios (ACERs) for height (cm) and height percentile. Herbal medicines for idiopathic short stature had average cost-effectiveness ratios per 1 cm height growth ranging from USD 56.2 to USD 113.8.
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