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. 2025 Feb;172(2):661-667.
doi: 10.1002/ohn.1030. Epub 2024 Oct 26.

Cost-Effectiveness of Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Pediatric Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Down Syndrome Patients

Frances Nowlen  1 , Patrick Scheffler  2   3
Affiliations

Cost-Effectiveness of Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation for Pediatric Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Down Syndrome Patients

Frances Nowlen et al. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the cost-effectiveness of hypoglossal nerve stimulation (HGNS) implantation at an early age in simulated pediatric cohorts with Down Syndrome (DS) and severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Study design: Cost-utility analysis.

Setting: Hypothetical cohort.

Methods: A Markov model simulated 3 pediatric cohorts with DS and OSA beginning at age 4 years until 21 years. Cohorts received HGNS implants in early childhood, late childhood, or adulthood at age 4, 13 (current FDA-approved age), or 18 years, respectively. Input model parameters were obtained from the literature and our institution. Outcomes were measured with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), measured in dollars per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Deterministic 1-way sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate the effects of parameter uncertainty.

Results: Results (total costs; total QALYs) across the time horizon were determined for each cohort: early implantation ($83,300.35; 15.79), late ($48,319.09; 14.98), and adult ($38,721.07; 14.55). ICERs were $48,892.47 per QALY for early vs late implantation, $43,471.15 per QALY for early vs adult implantation, and $30,959.58 per QALY for late vs adult implantation. All ICERs were below a willingness-to-pay threshold of $50,000 per QALY. Varying the discount rate and utility expectedly varied the ICERs and cost-effectiveness. Threshold analysis showed early implantation to be cost-effective for a HGNS implantation cost up to $62,230 compared to late implantation.

Conclusion: The current study suggests HGNS is a cost-effective treatment strategy for pediatric patients with DS and severe OSA. Our findings also suggest cost-effectiveness at ages younger than 13, the current age of FDA approval.

Keywords: Down syndrome; cost effectiveness; cost utility analysis; hypoglossal nerve stimulation; obstructive sleep apnea; pediatrics; upper airway stimulation.

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