Cost-effectiveness randomized clinical trial on the effect of photobiomodulation therapy for prevention of radiotherapy-induced severe oral mucositis in a Brazilian cancer hospital setting.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in association with a Preventive Oral Care Program (POCP) compared with POCP alone in the treatment of radiotherapy (RT)-induced oral mucositis (OM).

Methods: The cost-effectiveness was evaluated from the health provider perspective and conducted alongside a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Participants were randomly assigned to either PBMT (n = 25) or control (n = 23) group. The PBMT group participants received PBMT associated with POCP. In the control group, patients were submitted to POCP alone. Costs were identified, quantified, and valued through observation and consultation of the hospital's financial sector database and estimated in Brazilian real and converted to international dollars using the purchasing power parity exchange rate. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was estimated by considering the prevention of severe OM, interruption of RT, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) scores, measured by the OHIP-14 and patient-reported OM symptoms scale (PROMS).

Results: The incremental cost of PBMT was $857.35, and the cost per session was $25.69. The ICER was $ 2867.39 to avoid one case of severe OM and $ 2756.75 to prevent one interruption in RT due to OM. ICER to reduce 1 point in OHIP-14 and PROMS scores were $170.79 and $31.75, respectively.

Conclusion: PBMT is more cost-effective than POCP alone in preventing severe OM, worsening of the OHRQoL, and RT interruptions. PBMT is a promising therapy, especially to avoid interruptions in oncological treatment.

Trial Registration: ReBEC-RBR-5h4y4n.