| Title | Cost-effectiveness of pregabalin versus venlafaxine in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: findings from a Spanish perspective. | | Author(s) | Vera-Llonch M, Dukes E, Rejas J, Sofrygin O, Mychaskiw M, Oster G | | Institution | Policy Analysis Inc. (PAI), Brookline, MA, 02445, USA, veramo@pai2.com. | | Source | Eur J Health Econ 2009 Jun 9. | | Abstract | The objective of the present study was to describe a new model of the cost-effectiveness of treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and its application to a comparison of pregabalin versus venlafaxine extended-release (XR) from a Spanish healthcare perspective. Microsimulation techniques, including Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) score, number of weeks with minimal or no anxiety (HAM-A </= 9), and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), were used to predict treatment outcomes for patients with moderate-to-severe GAD who would be treated with pregabalin vs venlafaxine XR. Expected levels of healthcare utilization and unit cost of care are derived from Spanish published sources. We express cost-effectiveness alternatively in terms of incremental cost per additional week with minimal or no anxiety, and incremental cost per QALY gained [in 2007 Euros (<euro>)]. Considering costs of drug treatment only, the incremental cost [mean (95% confidence interval)] of pregabalin (vs venlafaxine XR) would be <euro>96 (<euro>86, <euro>107) per additional week with minimal or no anxiety, and <euro>32,832 (<euro>29,656, <euro>36,308) per QALY gained. When other medical care costs are considered, cost-effectiveness ratios decline to <euro>70 (<euro>61, <euro>80) per additional week with no or minimal anxiety, and <euro>23,909 (<euro>20,820, <euro>27,006) per QALY gained. We conclude that, using a new microsimulation model of the treatment of GAD, pregabalin appears to be cost-effective vs venlafaxine XR in a Spanish healthcare setting. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19506926 |
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