Costs of sialendoscopy and impact on health-related quality of life.
PURPOSE
To analyse costs related to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with sialolithiasis and sialadenitis managed with sialendoscopy, and to prospectively evaluate the impact of sialendoscopy on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a longitudinal follow-up study.


METHODS
All patients undergoing sialendoscopy or sialendoscopy-assisted surgery at a tertiary care university hospital between January 2014 and May 2016 were identified from a surgical database, and the direct hospital costs were retrospectively evaluated from 1 year before to 1 year after the sialendoscopy. The 15D HRQoL questionnaire and a questionnaire exploring the use of health care services during the preceding 3 months were mailed to the patients before sialendoscopy as well as at 3 and 12 months after the operation.


RESULTS
A total of 260 patients were identified. Mean total hospital costs, costs related to the sialendoscopy, and complications were significantly higher in sialolithiasis patients than in patients with other diagnoses. 74 patients returned the baseline 15D questionnaire, and 51 patients all three 15D questionnaires. At baseline, the dimensions "discomfort and symptoms" and "distress" were lower in patients than in age- and gender-standardised general population, but the total 15D score did not differ significantly. The dimension "discomfort and symptoms" improved significantly at 3 and 12 months postoperatively, and the mean total HRQoL score improved in patients with sialolithiasis at 3 months postoperatively.


CONCLUSIONS
The costs related to sialendoscopy are substantial and the cost-effectiveness of sialendoscopy warrants further studies. However, sialendoscopy seems to reduce patients' discomfort and ailments and to improve HRQoL at least in patients with sialolithiasis.
['Jokela|Johanna|J|http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6978-3558', 'Saarinen|Riitta|R|', 'Mäkitie|Antti|A|', 'Sintonen|Harri|H|', 'Roine|Risto|R|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis D004724:Endoscopy D005260:Female D005387:Finland D005500:Follow-Up Studies D017721:Hospital Costs D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D011788:Quality of Life D012189:Retrospective Studies D015494:Salivary Gland Calculi D012793:Sialadenitis D016896:Treatment Outcome D055815:Young Adult
Costs Sialendoscopy Health-related quality of life Quality of life Sialadenitis Cost-effectiveness