A persistency and economic analysis of latanoprost, bimatoprost, or beta-blockers in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the persistency and treatment costs for latanoprost, bimatoprost, or beta-blockers in open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertensive patients.


METHODS
This study was a retrospective, multicenter, parallel, active-controlled comparison of patients who were prescribed with ocular hypotensive monotherapy between September 1996 and August 2002.


RESULTS
1,182 patients were included. The Kaplan Meier life table analysis showed that latanoprost was continued longest among the groups for the first year of therapy (p=0.02). A significant difference existed between groups in the final intraocular pressure for latanoprost (17.3+/-3.9, N=357), for bimatoprost (18.0+/-3.6, N=146), and for the beta-blockers (17.9+/-3.7, N=335) (p=<0.0001). The average number of visits was statistically higher for beta-blockers (3.3), compared to latanoprost (2.9) and bimatoprost (3.1) (p=0.01). Further, the mean number of medicine changes was greater for bimatoprost (0.45) and beta-blockers (0.47) than for latanoprost (0.27) (p=0.0008). The cost of visits and medications was lowest for beta-blockers ($119.3+/-$78.9) and highest for bimatoprost ($163.8+/-$51.2) (p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients were more persistent with latanoprost and demonstrated lower intraocular pressure, fewer visits, and fewer medicine changes when compared to bimatoprost or beta-blocker therapy. In contrast, the beta-blocker group provided lower overall cost.
Day
Douglas G
DG
Atlanta Research Company, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Schacknow
Paul N
PN
Sharpe
Elizabeth D
ED
Ellyn
John C
JC
Kulze
John C
JC
Threlkeld
Anisa B
AB
Jones
Evan D
ED
Brown
Reay H
RH
Jenkins
Jessica N
JN
Stewart
William C
WC
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000191:economics*; D000368:Aged; D000577:Amides; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000191:economics*; D000069580:Bimatoprost; D003008:Cloprostenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D016527:Drug Costs; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008055:Lipids / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D009819:Office Visits; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000191:economics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012449:Safety
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000577:Amides; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008055:Lipids; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D003008:Cloprostenol; D000077338:Latanoprost; D000069580:Bimatoprost