Propentofylline treatment for Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia: An economic evaluation based on functional abilities

A Canadian economic evaluation of propentofylline (a therapy shown to be ef fective for patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease and/or vascula r dementia) versus standard care was conducted. Patients were categorized b y functional abilities according to the Alberta Resident Classification Sys tem by translating measures that were originally captured through the Gottf ries-Brane-Steen scale. The Alberta Resident Classification System was then linked to a community dataset of home care costs for a population with dem entia. Cost and cost-effectiveness analyses were performed from the perspec tive of the Ministry of Health, the caregiver, and society using an intent- to-treat analysis for propentofylline versus placebo. Results, limited to t he 48-week clinical trial duration, indicated that propentofylline improved health outcomes of persons with dementia as statistically significant trea tment effects were found. However. although an incremental cost for the pro pentofylline intervention was incurred from the Ministry of Health perspect ive, home care and, to a larger extent, caregiver costs were reduced. Savin gs in these areas may have partially offset annual treatment medication cos ts because a non-statistically significant cost difference was observed fro m a societal perspective.