Abstract
Inhaled corticosteroids for asthma treatment have become mainstay of therapy for patients with persistent asthma. Numerous inhaled corticosteroids are available but to date no prospective cost-effectiveness studies have been reported using exclusively US patients and costs. The purpose of this study was to examine the cost-effectiveness of HFA-beclomethasone (QVAR™) compared to CFC-beclomethasone (Vanceril™) using data from a year-long prospective randomized, open label, parallel multicenter trial. Eligibility criteria required patients to have been on a stable dose of CFC-BDP prior to enrollment. Patients were randomized to either HFA-BDP at approximately half their previous daily dose of CFC-BDP or to continue CFC-BDP. Effectiveness data, in terms of symptom-free days (SFDs), were used in a cost-effectiveness analysis conducted from the viewpoint of managed care. Patients receiving HFA-BDP reported a greater increase (median = 22.1) in the number of SFDs than those receiving CFC-BDP (median = 14.3) (P = 0.03). Total costs of care were less for patients taking HFA-BDP (median = $668) compared to CFC-BDP (median = $977). The median incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was -$5.77 (95% CI:-$68.08 to -$4.08). The results of this analysis indicate that HFA-BDP was a dominant therapy (more effective, less costly) compared to CFC-BDP.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1269-1276 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Respiratory Medicine |
| Volume | 97 |
| Issue number | 12 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Dec 2003 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Asthma
- Beclomethasone
- CFC-free
- Cost-effectiveness
- Economics
- Hydrofluoroalkane
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine