[Cost-effectivity analysis of the most used antiglaucoma drugs]
Author(s): Galindo-Ferreiro A, Sanchez-Tocino H, Fernandez-Munoz M, Iglesias Cortinas D
Affiliation(s): Servicio de Oftalmologia, Hospital Universitario Rio Hortega, Valladolid, Espana. ali_galindo@yahoo.es
Publication date & source: 2004-08, Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol., 79(8):379-84.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the yearly cost and the cost-effectiveness of commercially available topical products in treatment of glaucoma. METHODS: This analysis evaluates 12 topical agents in glaucoma: Betoptic, Betagan, Timoftol, Timogel, Alphagan, Lumigan, Travatan, Xalatan, Trusopt, Azopt. The number of drops per bottle of glaucoma medications is determined for all commercially tested products. The yearly cost of the dosage schedules was compared. We selected for each one 5 to 10-reported comparative hypotensive efficacy studies and we calculated the cost-effectiveness as the ratio between the yearly cost and the mean hypotensive efficacy. RESULTS: The range of hypotensive efficacy of monotherapy components is from 13.8% to 31.9%. Lumigan and Xalatan present the highest hypotensive efficacy, 31.9% and 28.6% respectively. The cheapest medication is the beta-blockers group. The cost-efficacy ratio of glaucoma therapy is 1.5 for Timoftol, 2.8 for Betagan, 9.6 for Alphagan, 9.1 for Lumigan, 10.7 for Xalatan and 11.3 for Travatan. CONCLUSIONS: Over time, Lumigan is significantly most effective in controlling IOP. The cost-effectiveness for managing IOP will depend on both price and hypotensive efficacy. The beta-blockers group has lower hypotensive efficacy than prostaglandin analogs but cost-effectiveness is better in the former because of its low price.
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