Per-gram cost of medication is by itself a poor indicator for comparing costs of different psoriasis treatments: a retrospective cohort study of the cost of psoriasis treatment with topical corticosteroids versus topical calcipotriene.

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
• Journal: Journal of cutaneous medicine and surgery (J Cutan Med Surg) Vol. 4 Issue 3 Pg. 121-5 (Jul 2000) ISSN: 1203-4754 [Print] United States
• 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