Risperidone compared with olanzapine in a naturalistic clinical study in Ireland: a cost analysis.
BACKGROUND
Risperidone and olanzapine are thought to have similar clinical effects. This study was designed to compare costs of treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To compare costs of treatment with risperidone or olanzapine in a naturalistic setting.


METHODS
The Irish Risperidone Olanzapine Drug Outcomes studies in Schizophrenia (RODOS) programme was a retrospective review of medical notes and prescription charts in 396 inpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. The main outcome measure was cost of inpatient drug treatment.


RESULTS
There was no statistical difference in length of hospital stay between risperidone-treated and olanzapine-treated patients (mean duration of stay 37.8 and 40.5 days, p=0.90). Mean+/-SD doses of risperidone and olanzapine were 4.2+/-2.1 mg/day and 12.9+/-5.0 mg/day, respectively. Average daily cost of all inpatient drugs was significantly higher for olanzapine than for risperidone (i.e. IEP5.61 [7.12] vs IEP3.38 [4.29]; p<0.0001), as was mean total costs of all inpatient drugs (i.e. IEP114.8 [145.8] vs IEP62.0 [78.7]; p<0.0001). This partly reflected the mean, non-significant, longer treatment duration for olanzapine compared with risperidone (mean 30.0 vs 26.4 days; p=0.27). Concomitant neuroleptic use was similar for both groups (71% risperidone, 73% olanzapine; p=0.54).


CONCLUSIONS
Risperidone was associated with significantly lower drug treatment costs.
Lucey
J V
JV
St Patrick's Hospital, PO Box 136, James's Street, Dublin, Ireland.
Libretto
S E
SE
D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007494:Ireland; D008297:Male; D000077152:Olanzapine; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018967:Risperidone / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D018967:Risperidone; D000077152:Olanzapine