[Treatment costs of otogenic vertigo].
OBJECTIVE
In this decision-tree analysis, the costs of otogenic vertigo treatment were investigated from the third-party payer's perspective. Either the combination preparation, with cinnarizine 20 mg and dimenhydrinate 40 mg as active substances, or betahistine (12 mg betahistinedimesilate) was administered.


METHODS
A core model, based on clinical studies, was developed and a cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted. Both differences in effectiveness of the alternative treatments and adverse reactions and side effects were included. The number of cases, in which no more symptoms of dizziness were detected after 4 weeks of therapy, served as the effectiveness parameter.


RESULTS
The effectiveness-adjusted costs amounted to 130.11 Euros for patients treated with the combination preparation and 629.28 Euros for treatment with betahistine.


CONCLUSIONS
From the third-party payer's perspective, therapy of otogenic vertigo with the combination preparation is more cost-effective than a treatment with betahistine. From the patient's perspective, the higher effectiveness and the superior profile of side effects militate in favor of a therapy with the combination preparation.
Stratmann
Lioba
L
Institut für Empirische Gesundheitsökonomie, Burscheid, Germany.
Heinen-Kammerer
Tatjana
T
Motzkat-Gniss
Kerstin
K
Holtmannspötter
Christine
C
Rychlik
Reinhard
R
D000328:Adult; D001621:Betahistine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002936:Cinnarizine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003663:Decision Trees; D004111:Dimenhydrinate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D017442:Histamine Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics
D004338:Drug Combinations; D017442:Histamine Agonists; C410867:cinnarizine, dimenhydrinate drug combination; D002936:Cinnarizine; D004111:Dimenhydrinate; D001621:Betahistine