Pc. Booth et al., A COMPARISON OF THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATIVE PROPHYLACTIC THERAPIES IN CHILDHOOD ASTHMA, PharmacoEconomics, 10(3), 1996, pp. 262-268
An economic analysis was conducted comparing the cost effectiveness of
fluticasone propionate with that of sodium cromoglycate (cromolyn sod
ium) in a group of children aged 4 to 12 years old with asthma, who re
quired inhaled prophylactic therapy. Over an 8-week study period, 115
patients received sodium cromoglycate 20mg 4 times daily, via the spin
operated dry powder inhaler, and 110 patients received fluticasone pr
opionate 50 mu g twice daily. via the Diskhaler(TM) (trademark held by
the Glaxo Wellcome Group of Companies). Patient healthcare resource u
se was examined in terms of study medication. the use of rescue medica
tion [salbutamol (albuterol) 200 mu g] and the number of hospitalisati
ons. The effectiveness of both treatments was examined over a ranee of
success and failure criteria embracing peak expiratory flow rate (PEF
R) improvement, symptom control and the level of adverse events relate
d to the study medication. Results indicate that, for each UK pound (p
ound) spent, fluticasone propionate was associated with twice as many
successfully treated patients as sodium cromoglycate, using a range of
outcomes based on the goals of treatment defined in the British Thora
cic Society's asthma guidelines. It is concluded that fluticasone prop
ionate was more cost effective than sodium cromoglycate in improving P
EFR and symptom control in this group of children with asthma who had
a clinical requirement for prophylactic therapy.