title: Economic evaluation of gastric ulcer prophylaxis in patients with arthritis receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
abstract: This study assesses the economic benefits of misoprostol in the prophylaxis of gastric ulcers larger than 0.3 cm in patients with osteoarthritis receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Independent epidemiological data were obtained for patients in Scotland and the West Midlands. Co-diagnosis of arthritis with gastric ulcer recorded in the routine data was substantially less (4% Scotland, 10% West Midlands) than the 21% found at case review. These data were combined with cost and patient management data in a decision analysis model to explore whether prophylactic use of misoprostol altered substantially the average cost of managing gastric ulcer. Using conservative assumptions and a daily dose of 400 micrograms, cost savings per patient to the National Health Service of 5-8 pounds over a 3-month period are expected in the groups of patients studied, while at the 800 micrograms dose there would be a net cost of 23-25 pounds. Sensitivity analysis showed that under many assumptions misoprostol is expected to be cost saving or cost neutral.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Glasgow, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knill-Jones
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kohli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davies
mesh_terms: D000527:Alprostadil / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D016595:Misoprostol; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D016595:Misoprostol; D000527:Alprostadil