| Abstract | BACKGROUND: New treatments are available for psoriasis that complement or replace the use of topical corticosteroids. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to assess the relative overall cost difference between regimens based on topical steroids and those using the nonsteroidal anti- psoriasis medication, topical calcipotriene. METHODS: Retrospective data on the cost of therapy of psoriasis were attained through analysis of claims from a national pharmaceutical-and-medical-visit claims-database. Episodes of psoriasis treatment were defined and analyzed for patients whose therapy was initiated with either topical calcipotriene or topical corticosteroids of different potency classes. RESULTS: The average medication cost per episode was greater for topical calcipotriene ($111/episode) compared to ultra-high potency ($70/episode), high potency ($57/episode), mid potency ($47/episode), and low-potency, ($75/episode) topical corticosteroids (p <.05). The average total cost of therapy for the topical calcipotriene regimen ($218) fell within the range for the cost of therapy for topical steroid base regimens ($197 to $457); there were no significant differences in the total cost of therapy between topical calcipotriene monotherapy and other treatment groups. CONCLUSION: The per-gram cost of medication is by itself a poor indicator for comparing the cost of different psoriasis treatment regimens. Given the greater safety and efficacy of combination regimens in terms of both short-term improvement and long-term control, initiating psoriasis treatment with a combination regimen of topical calcipotriene combined with an ultrapotent corticosteroid appears to be the most cost-effective approach to psoriasis treatment. |
| Authors | S R Feldman, S Sahu, A B Fleischer Jr, C M Dezii
(Affiliation: Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Plainsboro, New Jersey, USA.)
|
| Journal | Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery
(J Cutan Med Surg)
Vol. 4
Issue 3
Pg. 121-5
(Jul 2000)
ISSN: 1203-4754 CANADA |
| PMID | 11003715
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
| Chemical References |
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
- Dermatologic Agents
- Glucocorticoids
- calcipotriene
- Calcitriol
|
| Topics |
- Administration, Topical
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
(economics, therapeutic use)
- Calcitriol
(administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives, economics, therapeutic use)
- Cohort Studies
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Dermatologic Agents
(administration & dosage, economics, therapeutic use)
- Drug Costs
(statistics & numerical data)
- Economics, Pharmaceutical
- Female
- Glucocorticoids
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Psoriasis
(drug therapy, economics)
- Retrospective Studies
|
