[Costs of the treatment of enuresis nocturna. Health economic consequences of alternative methods in the treatment of enuresis nocturna].

The health economic consequences of treating nocturnal enuresis with a buzzer alarm is compared to treatment with Desmopressin. Based on age specific prevalence estimates and reported effects of the two treatments a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) was performed. The analysis showed a considerable difference between the costs of the two alternative treatments. A treatment based upon the buzzer alarm could result in a net saving to society of 19.2 million DKK, while a treatment based upon Desmopressin could result in expenses for society of 44.8 million DKK. A treatment based on a combination of the two will be economically neutral to the society. Treatment with a buzzer alarm or a combined treatment is therefore from a health economic point of view preferable. The health economic consequences of the introduction of new treatments are discussed, and it is recommended that health economic analyses are performed before the introduction of new treatments.