Partially Hydrolysed 100% Whey-Based Infant Formula and the Prevention of Atopic Dermatitis: Comparative Pharmacoeconomic Analyses

Clinical trials have demonstrated that the risk of developing atopic dermatitis is reduced when using hydrolysed formulas to feed infants with a documented risk of atopy (i.e. an affected parent and/or sibling) when breastfeeding is not practised. However, little is known about the cost-effectiveness of using hydrolysed formulas. Consequently, economic analyses in 5 European countries (Denmark, France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland) have evaluated the costs and costeffectiveness of a specific brand of 100% whey-based partially hydrolysed infant formula, NAN-HA (PHF-W) compared with a cow’s milk standard formula (SF) in the prevention of atopic dermatitis in at-risk children. This review synthesises the findings of these studies. Cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) used a decision-analytic model to determine treatment pathways, resource utilisation and costs associated with the management of atopic dermatitis in healthy atrisk newborns who were not exclusively breastfed. The modKey Messages • Atopic dermatitis is a common skin disease in infants and children, and places a substantial economic burden on families and the healthcare system. • In infants that are not exclusively breastfed, atopic dermatitis can be prevented by using a hydrolysed infant formula to reduce the risk of allergy. A specific 100% whey-based partially hydrolysed formula (PHF-W) has been shown to be more effective than a cow’s milk-based standard formula (SF), and comparable to extensively hydrolysed infant formulas (EHF), in the prevention of atopic dermatitis in at-risk infants. • Based on data from 5 European countries, PHF-W appears to be a feasible option for the prevention of atopic dermatitis, being cost effective from the perspective of public healthcare systems when compared with SF, and associated with substantial cost savings for public healthcare systems and society when compared to EHF.