[Cost-benefit analysis of [224Ra] radium chloride therapy for ankylosing spondylitis (Bekhterev's disease)].
OBJECTIVE
Cost-benefit analyses are helpful in setting priorities for funding health-care programs. The authors studied the cost/benefit of treatment with radium-224 compared to the treatment without radium-224 in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).


METHODS
The data of a 2-year retrospective observational study were used to estimate cost/benefit of [224Ra] therapy. Twelve patients treated with [224Ra], complete recruit in AOK Saxony, matched (age, gender, employment status) with twelve patients receiving conservative treatment without [224Ra], were compared for lost productivity and direct medical costs, such as doctor visits, medication and hospitalization, 1 year before and after treatment.


RESULTS
1 year after the first i.v. injection of [224Ra], all cost factors in the case group were reduced compared to 1 year before treatment with [224Ra] (hospitalization 29.4%, doctor visits 23.5%, medication 9.4%, and lost productivity even 82.3%). The total costs decreased by an average of 3,870 Euros. Because of the small sample the differences showed a trend but were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of [224Ra] in patients with AS seems to reduce lost productivity and direct medical costs, but additional studies based on more patients and long-term data are needed.
Zhang
Zhengguang
Z
Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden. zhangzhengguang@gmail.com
Siegert
Joachim
J
Maywald
Ulf
U
Kirch
Wihelm
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011883:Radium / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000191:economics* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013910:Thorium
C026062:thorium X; D013910:Thorium; D011883:Radium