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A Prospective Study of Costs Associated With the Evaluation of Allergic Reactions to Radiological Contrast Media

Sobrino-García M1,2, Muñoz-Bellido FJ1,2,3, Moreno E1,2,3,4, Gracia-Bara MT1,2, Laffond E1,2,3, Lázaro-Sastre M1, Martín-García C1,2, Dávila I1,2,3,4

1Allergy Department, University Hospital of Salamanca, Spain
2Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
3Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Salamanca, Spain
4Asthma, Allergic and Adverse Reactions (ARADyAL) Network for Cooperative Research in Health of Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Salamanca University Hospital, Salamanca, Spain

J Investig Allergol Clin Immunol 2023; Vol 33(2) : 102-108
doi: 10.18176/jiaci.0774

Background: The prevalence of hypersensitivity reactions to radiological contrast media (RCM) is increasing owing to the improved performance of diagnostic and therapeutic tests that require RCMs.
Objective: We carried out a year-long real-life observational study to prospectively evaluate patients referred to the allergy department from primary care, the emergency department, and other specialties with suspected moderate-to-severe RCM hypersensitivity reactions.
Methods: To study the costs of evaluating RCM hypersensitivity reactions, we systematically recorded direct and indirect costs.
Results: Sixty-nine patients with previous reactions to RCM were evaluated in the allergy department from June 1, 2017, to May 31, 2018.Total direct health care costs were €10 715.84, with a mean (SD) cost per patient of €155.30 (77.08). Specifically, direct non–health care costs reached €1605.42 (mean, €23.27 [41.14]), and indirect costs were €6490.85 (mean, €94.07 [110.61]). In summary, the total cost was €18 812.11, that is, a mean cost of €272.64 (164.77).
Conclusions: Our study shows that the costs of an elective evaluation of hypersensitivity reactions to RCM are low, thus confirming that correct and safe management of affected patients are cost-effective. Therefore, our efforts should be directed toward ensuring the necessary logistics.

Key words: Contrast media, Hypersensitivity, Health care costs, Diagnostic tests, Prospective studies