Long-term outcomes of prostaglandin analog versus timolol maleate in ocular hypertensive or primary open-angle glaucoma patients in Europe.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To determine the direct costs of therapy over 5 years of a European monotherapy cohort begun on a prostaglandin (PTG) versus timolol in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

METHODS:

A retrospective, multicenter, active-controlled, observational study. Data were abstracted for European patients treated as initial monotherapy in 1996 or afterward, with 5 years of available records.

RESULTS:

This study included 271 patients (166 on a PTG and 105 on timolol at baseline). The average cost/month/patient over 5 years was $45.47±12.61 for PTG and $31.50±15.47 for timolol (P<0.001, based on German prices). After 5 years, although there was no difference in number of glaucoma medicines prescribed between groups (1.0 PTGs and 1.1 timolol, P=0.41), the timolol group demonstrated a higher intraocular pressure (17.7±2.9 vs. 16.5±3.0 mm Hg, P<0.001), more medication changes (P=0.01), greater incidence of glaucomatous progression (P=0.04), and less patients persistent on original monotherapy (P<0.001) than the PTG cohort.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients originally on timolol monotherapy have a lower cost of care over 5 years than those started on a PTG. However, timolol patients during follow-up may demonstrate a higher intraocular pressure, more progression, more medication changes, and lower persistency of the original monotherapy.

• Authors: Gábor Holló, Ulrich Thelen, Miguel A Teus, Luciano Quaranta, Sylvia Ferkova, Nikola Babić, Marta Misiuk-Hojlo, Dimitrios G Mikropoulos, Bartlomiej J Kaluzny, Vassilios Kozobolis, Ingrida Januleviciene, Péter Kóthy, Cristina Camara, Andrea Russo, Patrycja Krzyzanowska-Berkowska, Iwona Cieślińska, Jeanette A Stewart, Michael S Kristoffersen, Lindsay A Nelson, William C Stewart
• Journal: Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics : the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics (J Ocul Pharmacol Ther) Vol. 27 Issue 5 Pg. 493-8 (Oct 2011) ISSN: 1557-7732 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21790326 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• Amides
• Antihypertensive Agents
• Prostaglandins F, Synthetic
• Cloprostenol
• Latanoprost
• Timolol
• Bimatoprost
• Travoprost

Topics

• Aged
• Amides (economics, therapeutic use)
• Antihypertensive Agents (economics, therapeutic use)
• Bimatoprost
• Cloprostenol (analogs & derivatives, economics, therapeutic use)
• Disease Progression
• Drug Costs
• Europe
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Glaucoma, Open-Angle (drug therapy, economics)
• Humans
• Intraocular Pressure (drug effects)
• Latanoprost
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Ocular Hypertension (drug therapy, economics)
• Prostaglandins F, Synthetic (economics, therapeutic use)
• Retrospective Studies
• Time Factors
• Timolol (economics, therapeutic use)
• Travoprost
• Treatment Outcome