Cost‐effectiveness of fenofibrate versus standard care for reducing the progression of diabetic retinopathy: An economic evaluation based on data from the LENS trial
Authors' conclusion
Fenofibrate is likely to offer a cost-effective treatment for slowing the progression of diabetic retinopathy in people with early to moderate diabetic retinopathy or maculopathy.
Study context
- Population
- Participants with early diabetic eye disease enrolled in the LENS trial
- Comparison
- Fenofibrate vs standard care
- Outcome
- Incremental cost per case of referable disease averted (within trial); incremental cost per QALY (model)
Methodological detailswithin-trial analysis, microsimulation model, UK NHS perspective
- Within-trial analysis
- Microsimulation model
- UK NHS perspective
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Mean reduction in health service costs
-£254
95% CI −1062 to 624
at 2 years
Mean reduction in health service costs
-£101
95% CI −243 to 42
per 6-month follow-up
- Modelled over 10 years: additional cost per patient
- £6
- Expected quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gain
- 0.02
- Cost per QALY vs standard care (base case)
- £406
- Probability of cost-effectiveness at £20,000 per QALY, depending on anti-VEGF price discount
- 70% to 79%
Further findings
| Outcome | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Any referable diabetic retinopathy or treatment thereof · 2 years | absolute reduction 4.4% (CI 1.3%–8.0%) |
| Any referable diabetic retinopathy or treatment thereof · over follow-up (median 4.0 years) | relative reduction 27% (CI 9%–42%) |
Original publication
Cost‐effectiveness of fenofibrate versus standard care for reducing the progression of diabetic retinopathy: An economic evaluation based on data from the LENS trial. Diabet Med. Published 3 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →