• Judit Simon, Alastair Gray, Lelia Duley, and Magpie Trial Collaborative Group.
• Health Economics Research Centre, Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, UK.
• BJOG. 2006 Feb 1;113(2):144-51.

ObjectiveTo assess the cost-effectiveness of using magnesium sulphate for pre-eclampsia to prevent eclampsia.DesignMultinational trial-based economic evaluation.SettingThirty-three countries participating in the Magnesium Sulphate for Prevention of Eclampsia (Magpie) Trial.PopulationWomen (9996) with pre-eclampsia from the Magpie Trial.MethodsOutcome and hospital resource use data were available for the trial period from the Magpie Trial. Country-specific unit costs (U.S. dollar, year 2001) were obtained subsequently from participating hospitals by questionnaire. Cost-effectiveness was estimated for three categories of countries grouped by gross national income (GNI) into high, middle and low GNI countries using a regression model. Uncertainty was explored in sensitivity analyses.Main Outcome MeasuresEclampsia, hospital care costs and the incremental cost per case of eclampsia prevented.ResultsThe number of women with pre-eclampsia who needed to receive magnesium sulphate to prevent one case of eclampsia was 324 [95% confidence interval (CI) 122, infinity] in high, 184 (95% CI 91, 6798) in middle and 43 (95% CI 30, 68) in low GNI countries. The additional hospital care cost per woman receiving magnesium sulphate was $65, $13 and $11, respectively. The incremental cost of preventing one case of eclampsia was $21,202 in high, $2473 in middle and $456 in low GNI countries. Reserving treatment for severe pre-eclampsia would lower these estimates to $12,942, $1179 and $263.ConclusionsMagnesium sulphate for pre-eclampsia costs less and prevents more eclampsia in low GNI than in high GNI countries. Cost-effectiveness substantially improves if it is used only for severe pre-eclampsia, or the purchase price is reduced in low GNI countries.

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