A comparison of costs for four oral antidiabetic regimens within a managed care population.
A retrospective database analysis compared costs among patients with type 2 diabetes receiving four antidiabetic regimens: (1) repaglinide monotherapy, (2) metformin monotherapy, (3) repaglinide and metformin in combination, or (4) metformin and glyburide in combination. Pharmacy, medical, and total costs were measured for each cohort over a nine-month period. Although not statistically significant, total adjusted costs were lowest for the repaglinide-metformin combination ($8,924), followed by metformin monotherapy ($9,448), metformin and glyburide ($9,576), and repaglinide monotherapy ($11,910). These results must be confirmed in larger populations, but they imply that differences in pharmacy costs of repaglinide-metformin therapy are offset by measurable medical cost savings.
Stockl
Karen
K
Prescription Solutions, Costa Mesa, California, USA. karen.stockl@rxsol.com
Vanderplas
Ann M
AM
Nicklasson
Lars
L
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002140:California; D002219:Carbamates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005905:Glyburide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000191:economics*; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D002219:Carbamates; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D010880:Piperidines; C072379:repaglinide; D008687:Metformin; D005905:Glyburide