STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) in children aged 12 to 47 months with asthma symptoms. DESIGN: A retrospective economic analysis conducted from the perspective of the Danish health-care system, based on clinical data from a 12-week study. SETTING:Thirty-three outpatient centers in nine countries. PATIENTS: Two hundred thirty-seven children aged 12 to 47 months with documented history of recurrent wheeze or asthma symptoms. INTERVENTIONS: Two dosages of FP, 100 microg/d and 200 microg/d, and placebo administered in two divided doses via a metered-dose inhaler and a Babyhaler (Glaxo Wellcome; Middlesex, UK) spacer device. MEASUREMENTS: Effectiveness in terms of asthma exacerbations, control of cough and wheeze symptoms, symptom-free days, overall direct costs of asthma management in Danish kroner at 1999 prices, and mean and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. RESULTS:FP, 200 microg/d, was significantly more effective than placebo treatment in terms of the proportion of exacerbation-free patients (73.7% vs 59.8%; p = 0.025) and patients experiencing a > or = 25% improvement in cough symptoms (57.9% vs 39.0%; p = 0.018). The costs per exacerbation-free patient, per patient with a > or = 25% improvement in cough and wheeze symptoms from baseline, and per symptom-free day were lower in the FP groups than in the placebo group. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for these end points indicated that the additional benefits of FP, 200 microg/d, were achieved at a lower overall cost compared with placebo treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From the perspective of the Danish health-care system, FP, 100 microg bid, administered via the Babyhaler inhalation device was cost-effective relative to standard therapy with bronchodilators alone.
RCT Entities:
STUDY OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) in children aged 12 to 47 months with asthma symptoms. DESIGN: A retrospective economic analysis conducted from the perspective of the Danish health-care system, based on clinical data from a 12-week study. SETTING: Thirty-three outpatient centers in nine countries. PATIENTS: Two hundred thirty-seven children aged 12 to 47 months with documented history of recurrent wheeze or asthma symptoms. INTERVENTIONS: Two dosages of FP, 100 microg/d and 200 microg/d, and placebo administered in two divided doses via a metered-dose inhaler and a Babyhaler (Glaxo Wellcome; Middlesex, UK) spacer device. MEASUREMENTS: Effectiveness in terms of asthma exacerbations, control of cough and wheeze symptoms, symptom-free days, overall direct costs of asthma management in Danish kroner at 1999 prices, and mean and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. RESULTS: FP, 200 microg/d, was significantly more effective than placebo treatment in terms of the proportion of exacerbation-free patients (73.7% vs 59.8%; p = 0.025) and patients experiencing a > or = 25% improvement in cough symptoms (57.9% vs 39.0%; p = 0.018). The costs per exacerbation-free patient, per patient with a > or = 25% improvement in cough and wheeze symptoms from baseline, and per symptom-free day were lower in the FP groups than in the placebo group. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for these end points indicated that the additional benefits of FP, 200 microg/d, were achieved at a lower overall cost compared with placebo treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From the perspective of the Danish health-care system, FP, 100 microg bid, administered via the Babyhaler inhalation device was cost-effective relative to standard therapy with bronchodilators alone.
Authors: Li Wang; Christopher S Hollenbeak; David T Mauger; Robert S Zeiger; Ian M Paul; Christine A Sorkness; Robert F Lemanske; Fernando D Martinez; Robert C Strunk; Stanley J Szefler; Lynn M Taussig Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2011-01 Impact factor: 10.793