A COMPARISON OF THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF ALTERNATIVE PROPHYLACTIC THERAPIES IN CHILDHOOD ASTHMA

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.