Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and overweight are associated with an increased likelihood of complications during birth and for the newborn baby. These complications lead to increased immediate and long-term healthcare costs as well as reduced health and wellbeing in women and infants. This protocol presents the health-economic evaluation to investigate the cost-effectiveness of Bump2Baby and Me (B2B&Me), which is a health coaching intervention delivered via smartphone to women at risk of gestational diabetes.

Methods

Using data from the B2B&Me randomised controlled trial, this economic evaluation compares costs and health effects between the intervention and control group using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Direct healthcare costs, costs of pharmaceuticals and intervention costs will be included in the analysis, body weight and quality-adjusted life years will serve as the effect outcomes. To investigate the long-term cost-effectiveness of the trial, a Markov model will be employed. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis will be employed.

Discussion

GDM is a growing public health concern affecting both short and long-term health outcomes and healthcare costs. Identifying cost-effective options for prevention is an international global priority. This protocol describes the methods for calculating the short-term and long-term cost-effectiveness of an intervention aimed at preventing GDM, overweight and obesity amongst women during pregnancy and the first year postpartum.