COST-EFFICACY OF 5-HT3-RECEPTOR ANTAGONIS TS IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED EMESIS - HEALTH ECONOMIC-ANALYSIS BASED ON RECENT METAANALYTIC RESULTS

Background: Cost containment measures in hospitals suspect the efficie ncy of 5-HT3-receptor antagonists (5-HT3-RA) in treating chemotherapy- induced emesis. Research: This paper compares the cost-efficacy of acu te antiemetic interventions both for high and moderate emetogenic canc er treatments. The cost-efficacy-analysis is based on a recent metaana lysis comparing metoclopramide (MCP)- and 5-HT3-RA-containing antiemet ic regimens both in comedication with cortico-steroids. Total costs fo r treating moderate emetogenic cancer treatments sum up to DM 53.-for MCP-regimens and DM 55.-for 5-HT3-RA resp. In high emetogenic cancer t reatments total costs for MCP-regimens are DM 76.-and DM 61.-for 5-HT3 -RA. Total costs for fully controlled patients in moderate emetogenic cancer treatments are DM 77.-for MCP and DM 71.-for 5HT(3)-RA. In high emetogenic cancer treatments costs for ht fully controlled patient wi th MCP-regimens are DM 126.-and DM 79.-with 5-HT3-RA. Conclusion: Even under mere economical consideration 5-HT3-RAs should be prescribed in treating acute chemotherapy-induced emesis.