| Title | Clinical trial: cost-effectiveness of macrogol 3350 compared to lactulose in the treatment of adults suffering from chronic constipation in the UK. | | Author(s) | Taylor RR, Guest JF | | Institution | Catalyst Health Economics Consultants, Northwood, Middlesex, UK. | | Source | Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2009 Nov 3. | | Abstract | ABSTRACT
Background: It is unknown whether macrogol 3350 (Movicol((R)) (1)) affords the UK's National Health Service (NHS) a cost-effective addition to the current range of laxatives.
Aim: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of macrogol 3350 compared to lactulose in the treatment of chronic constipation, from the perspective of the UK's NHS.
Methods: A decision model depicting the management of chronic constipation was constructed using clinical outcomes and resource use values derived from patients suffering from chronic constipation in The Health Improvement Network (THIN) Database. The model was used to estimate the cost-effectiveness of a GP prescribing macrogol 3350 instead of lactulose to treat adults >/=18 years of age suffering from chronic constipation.
Results: Sixty-eight percent of macrogol 3350-treated patients were successfully treated within six months after starting treatment, compared to 60% of lactulose-treated patients. Patients' health status at six months was estimated to be 0.458 and 0.454 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in the macrogol 3350 and lactulose groups respectively. The total six-monthly NHS cost of treating patients with macrogol 3350 or lactulose was estimated to be pound420 (US $688) and pound419 (US $686), respectively. Hence, the cost per QALY gained with macrogol 3350 was estimated to be pound250 (US $410).
Conclusion: Macrogol 3350 affords the NHS a cost-effective addition to the range of laxatives available for this potentially resource-intensive condition. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19886948 |
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