Citation

Lachaine J, Beauchemin C, Mathurin K, Gilbert D, Beillat M. J. Med. Econ. 2014; 17(4): 296-304.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.3111/13696998.2014.897627

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Asenapine is the first tetracyclic antipsychotic approved in Canada for the treatment of schizophrenia (SCZ). Asenapine has shown a comparable efficacy profile to other atypical antipsychotics and it is associated with a favourable metabolic profile and less weight gain. This study aimed to assess the economic impact of asenapine compared to other atypical antipsychotics in the treatment of SCZ in Canada.

METHODS: A decision tree combined with a Markov model was constructed to assess the cost-utility of asenapine compared with other atypical antipsychotics. The decision tree takes into account the occurrence of extrapyramidal symptoms, the probability of switching to a different antipsychotic, and the probability of gaining weight. The Markov model takes into account long-term metabolic complications including diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart diseases, and stroke. In the base-case analysis, asenapine was compared to olanzapine. Asenapine was also compared with other atypical antipsychotics commonly used in Canada in alternative scenarios. Analyses were conducted from both Canadian Ministry of Health (MoH) and societal perspectives over a 5-year time horizon.

RESULTS: In the treatment of SCZ, asenapine is a dominant strategy over olanzapine from both MoH and societal perspectives. Compared to quetiapine, asenapine is also a dominant strategy. Furthermore, asenapine has a favorable economic impact compared to ziprasidone and aripiprazole, as these antipsychotics are not costeffective compared to asenapine from both MoH and societal perspectives.

CONCLUSION: Despite the short time horizon, the lack of compliance data and the assumptions made, this economic evaluation demonstrates that asenapine is a cost-effective strategy compared to olanzapine and to most of the atypical antipsychotics frequently used in Canada. © 2014 Informa UK Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; adult; Canada; human; suicide; female; male; Health Services; incidence; Cost-Benefit Analysis; survival rate; Decision Trees; quality of life; Schizophrenia; schizophrenia; mortality; clinical trial; Markov Chains; Olanzapine; article; comparative study; neuroleptic agent; quetiapine; health service; Cost-effectiveness; economics; drug efficacy; extrapyramidal symptom; olanzapine; weight gain; cost effectiveness analysis; onset age; cost benefit analysis; ziprasidone; probability; statistical model; Antipsychotic Agents; aripiprazole; Antipsychotic; utilization; Models, Economic; asenapine; decision tree; cost utility analysis; Asenapine; Cost-utility; fused heterocyclic rings; Heterocyclic Compounds with 4 or More Rings