The cost-effectiveness of etanercept in patients with severe ankylosing spondylitis in the UK.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the costs and benefits associated with long-term etanercept (ETN) treatment in patients with severe ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the UK in accordance with the BSR guidelines.


METHODS
A mathematical model was constructed to estimate the costs and benefits associated with ETN plus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) compared with NSAIDs alone. Individual patient data from Phase III RCTs was used to inform the proportion and magnitude of initial response to treatment and changes in health-related quality of life. A retrospective costing exercise on patients attending a UK secondary care rheumatology unit was used to inform disease costs. Published evidence on long-term disease progression was extrapolated over a 25-yr horizon. Uncertainty was examined using probabilistic sensitivity analyses.


RESULTS
Over a 25-yr horizon, ETN plus NSAIDs gave 1.58 more QALYs at an additional cost of 35,978 pounds when compared with NSAID treatment alone. This equates to a central estimate of 22,700 pounds per QALY. The incremental cost per QALYs using shorter time periods were 27,600 pounds, 23,600 pounds and 22,600 pounds at 2, 5 and 15 yrs, respectively. Using a 25-yr horizon, 93% of results from the probabilistic analyses fall below a threshold of 25,000 pounds per QALY.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates the potential cost-effectiveness of ETN plus NSAIDs compared with NSAIDs alone in patients with severe AS treated according to the BSR guidelines in the UK.
Ara
R M
RM
Health Economics and Decision Science, School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Regent Court, 40 Regent Street, Sheffield S1 4DA, UK. r.m.ara@sheffield.ac.uk
Reynolds
A V
AV
Conway
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006113:United Kingdom
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept