[Cost-effectivity analysis of the most used antiglaucoma drugs].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the yearly cost and the cost-effectiveness of commercially available topical products in treatment of glaucoma.


METHODS
This analysis evaluates 12 topical agents in glaucoma: Betoptic, Betagan, Timoftol, Timogel, Alphagan, Lumigan, Travatan, Xalatan, Trusopt, Azopt. The number of drops per bottle of glaucoma medications is determined for all commercially tested products. The yearly cost of the dosage schedules was compared. We selected for each one 5 to 10-reported comparative hypotensive efficacy studies and we calculated the cost-effectiveness as the ratio between the yearly cost and the mean hypotensive efficacy.


RESULTS
The range of hypotensive efficacy of monotherapy components is from 13.8% to 31.9%. Lumigan and Xalatan present the highest hypotensive efficacy, 31.9% and 28.6% respectively. The cheapest medication is the beta-blockers group. The cost-efficacy ratio of glaucoma therapy is 1.5 for Timoftol, 2.8 for Betagan, 9.6 for Alphagan, 9.1 for Lumigan, 10.7 for Xalatan and 11.3 for Travatan.


CONCLUSIONS
Over time, Lumigan is significantly most effective in controlling IOP. The cost-effectiveness for managing IOP will depend on both price and hypotensive efficacy. The beta-blockers group has lower hypotensive efficacy than prostaglandin analogs but cost-effectiveness is better in the former because of its low price.
Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid, España. ali_galindo@yahoo.es
A
A
Galindo-Ferreiro
H
H
Sánchez-Tocino
M
M
Fernández-Muñoz
D
D
Iglesias Cortiñas
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013030:Spain
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions