Budesonide/formoterol in a single inhaler (Symbicort) reduces healthcare costs compared with separate inhalers in the treatment of asthma over 12 months.
This open, multinational, randomised, parallel-group, six-month extension conducted in the Swedish centres of a previous six-month study compared the costs of a total of 12 months of treatment with budesonide/formoterol in a single inhaler with budesonide plus formoterol separate inhalers in 320 adults with asthma. Patients received budesonide/formoterol (Symbicort Turbuhaler) 160/4.5 mg delivered doses, two inhalations b.i.d., or corresponding doses of budesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler) plus formoterol (Oxis Turbuhaler). Direct costs and indirect costs were estimated. Budesonide/formoterol treatment was associated with reduced healthcare service utilisation and statistically significant reductions in direct (SEK1595, p=0.0004) and total costs (SEK1884, p=0.043) per person per year compared with budesonide plus formoterol. Budesonide/formoterol reduced the average annual emergency room admission cost per person by SEK489.7 (31% of direct cost reduction) and physician costs by SEK235.4 (15%).The direct cost of study, relief and other medication was reduced by SEK893.8 (47% of total reduction). There were no statistically significant differences in efficacy and safety parameters following treatment with budesonide/formoterol from single or separate inhalers, other than a significantly lower proportion of withdrawals with the single inhaler (9.2% vs 19.4%, p=0.008). In summary, budesonide/formoterol treatment from a single inhaler reduced 12-month treatment costs compared with separate inhalers, while maintaining at least as good control of asthma.
Rosenhall
L
L
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Borg
S
S
Andersson
F
F
Ericsson
K
K
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013548:Sweden; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000069502:Budesonide, Formoterol Fumarate Drug Combination; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004983:Ethanolamines; D019819:Budesonide; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate