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ABSTRACT: Objective
Adherence with bisphosphonates therapy is generally low. Enhancing adherence with bisphosphonates would be effective in achieving the full benefits of therapy albeit a growth in the expenditure for supporting incremented drug use is expected. The cost-effectiveness of enhancing adherence with oral bisphosphonates in a large population of osteoporotic women has been assessed in the current study.Design
Retrospective cohort study.Setting
Healthcare utilisation databases of Lombardy Region, Italy.Participants
A cohort of 28 558 women aged 45 years or more, resident in the Italian Region of Lombardy, who were newly treated with oral bisphosphonates during 2003-2004, was followed for 6 years after index prescription.Outcome measures
Fracture-free survival time, healthcare cost and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of enhancing adherence, that is, the additional cost that would be spent every year for gaining one fracture-free year as a consequence of enhancing adherence at a certain level.Results
Enhanced adherence from 33% (baseline) to 80%, increased both fracture-free survivals from 970 to 973 years and healthcare costs from €118 000 to €265 000 every 1000 woman-years, with ICER value of €53 000 (95% CI €49 000 to €58 000). ICER values were lower for older women (€50 000; 95% CI €42 000 to €58 000) and for those suffering from at least a chronic comorbidity (€25000; 95% CI 95% CI €7000 to €47 000).Conclusions
Enhancing adherence with oral bisphosphonates offers important benefits in reducing the risk of fracture, although at a substantial cost.
SUBMITTER: Scotti L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3975742 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Mar
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Scotti Lorenza L Arfè Andrea A Zambon Antonella A Merlino Luca L Corrao Giovanni G
BMJ open 20140324 3
<h4>Objective</h4>Adherence with bisphosphonates therapy is generally low. Enhancing adherence with bisphosphonates would be effective in achieving the full benefits of therapy albeit a growth in the expenditure for supporting incremented drug use is expected. The cost-effectiveness of enhancing adherence with oral bisphosphonates in a large population of osteoporotic women has been assessed in the current study.<h4>Design</h4>Retrospective cohort study.<h4>Setting</h4>Healthcare utilisation dat ...[more]