PHARMACOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF TOPICAL TREATMENT FOR TINEA INFECTIONS

Background A payor-perspective economic analysis of the topical creams ciclopirox, clotrimazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, and terbinafine ( TER) used to treat dermatophytosis has been made. This pharmacoeconomi c evaluation was conducted in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Metho ds A four-phase approach was used. Phase 1: experts were assembled to identify the standard approach for management of fungal infections and a decision tree was constructed to model the process. Phase 2: meta-a nalysis was used to determine success, failure, and relapse rates. Pha se 3: economic analyses performed included cost of regimen, total expe cted cost, and cost-effectiveness, Phase 4: sensitivity analyses (robu stness analysis) were also executed to determine the validity of the a ssumptions, Results In the total expected cost analysis, TER demonstra ted the lowest overall cost of treating patients, Terbinafine also pro vided the highest number of disease-free days during the analytic time horizon and, consequently, the lowest cost per disease-free day. Sens itivity analyses suggest that TER is the most cost-effective topical p roduct for treating dermatophytosis in Austria, Germany, and Switzerla nd. Conclusions All analytic scenarios suggest that TER therapy demons trates lower expected costs and generates more DFDs when compared with the fungistatic topical therapies included in this pharmacoeconomic a nalysis, Terbinafine is expected to be the most cost-effective choice in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland for treatment of dermatophytosis minor.