The cost effectiveness of leukotriene receptor antagonists versus long acting beta-2 agonists as add-on therapy to inhaled corticosteroids for asthma: a pragmatic trial

Wilson, Edward C. F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8369-1577, Price, David, Musgrave, Stanley D., Sims, Erika J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7898-0331, Shepstone, Lee, Murdoch, Jamie, Mugford, H. Miranda, Blyth, Annie, Juniper, Elizabeth F., Ayres, Jon G., Wolfe, Stephanie, Freeman, Daryl, Gilbert, Richard F. T., Hillyer, Elizabeth V. and Harvey, Ian (2010) The cost effectiveness of leukotriene receptor antagonists versus long acting beta-2 agonists as add-on therapy to inhaled corticosteroids for asthma: a pragmatic trial. PharmacoEconomics, 28 (7). pp. 597-608. ISSN 1179-2027

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

Background: Information is lacking on the relative effectiveness and cost effectiveness – in a real-life primary-care setting – of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) and long-acting ß2 adrenergic receptor agonists (ß2 agonists) as add-on therapy for patients whose asthma symptoms are not controlled on low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Objective: To estimate the cost effectiveness of LTRAs compared with long-acting ß2 agonists as add-on therapy for patients whose asthma symptoms are not controlled on low-dose ICS. Methods: An economic evaluation was conducted alongside a 2-year, pragmatic, randomized controlled trial set in 53 primary-care practices in the UK. Patients aged 12–80 years with asthma insufficiently controlled with ICS (n?=?361) were randomly assigned to add-on LTRAs (n?=?176) or long-acting ß2 agonists (n?=?185). The main outcome measures were the incremental cost per point improvement in the Mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (MiniAQLQ), per point improvement in the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and per QALY gained from perspectives of the UK NHS and society. Results: Over 2 years, the societal cost per patient receiving LTRAs was £1157 versus £952 for long-acting ß2 agonists, a (significant, adjusted) increase of £214 (95% CI 2, 411) [year 2005 values]. Patients receiving LTRAs experienced a non-significant incremental gain of 0.009 QALYs (95% CI -0.077, 0.103). The incremental cost per QALY gained from the societal (NHS) perspective was £22?589 (£11?919). Uncertainty around this point estimate suggested that, given a maximum willingness to pay of £30?000 per QALY gained, the probability that LTRAs are a cost-effective alternative to long-acting ß2 agonists as add-on therapy was approximately 52% from both societal and NHS perspectives. Conclusions: On balance, these results marginally favour the repositioning of LTRAs as a cost-effective alternative to long-acting ß2 agonists as add-on therapy to ICS for asthma. However, there is much uncertainty surrounding the incremental cost effectiveness because of similarity of clinical benefit and broad confidence intervals for differences in healthcare costs.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Allied Health Professions (former - to 2013)
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Economics
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023)
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Clinical Trials Unit
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Services and Primary Care
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion
Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Population Health
Depositing User: EPrints Services
Date Deposited: 25 Nov 2010 11:13
Last Modified: 16 Jun 2024 06:30
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/15176
DOI: 10.2165/11537560-000000000-00000

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item