Model Inputs: Transition Probabilities, Health Utilities, and Costs
infection, gangrene
INFECTION, EVENT, GANGRENE, TRANSITION
Transition probabilities reflecting risks of progression between health states were derived from published literature (Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were the primary effectiveness outcome and estimated by multiplying health utilities with the number of years spent in each health state. Health utilities were obtained from the study by Kuo et alMonthly health care costs were estimated. Costs were classified as a one-time event or hospitalization costs, which occurred when any health states changed to health states of infection, gangrene, or amputation, and state costs, which represented medical costs incurred in every modeling cycle (