Cost comparison of finasteride and dutasteride for enlarged prostate in a managed care setting among Medicare-aged men.
OBJECTIVE
To assess cost differences between dutasteride and finasteride use within the first year of initiating treatment for enlarged prostate (EP) among men aged > or =65 years in a managed care setting.


METHODS
For this retrospective analysis, medical/pharmacy claims data from July 1, 2003, to June 30, 2006, were analyzed for EP patients aged > or =65 years who were treated with dutasteride or finasteride. Analysis of average monthly costs over each patient's 1-year follow-up period incorporated total charges for EP-related medical care, including physician, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, emergency department, and other ancillary services.


RESULTS
A total of 4498 patients met selection criteria, with comparable demographics between treatment cohorts. Patients taking dutasteride incurred $51 less per month in medical expenses than finasteride-treated patients ($122 vs $173; P <.001), attributable to lower monthly inpatient hospitalization costs ($55.84 vs $70.34), outpatient costs ($22.07 vs $44.25), and physician office visit costs ($40.69 vs $51.10).


CONCLUSIONS
Medicare-aged patients treated with dutasteride incurred $51 less per month in medical costs than those treated with generic finasteride, suggesting that the higher price of dutasteride may be offset by decreased medical resource consumption.
Naslund
Michael
M
University of Marlyand School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. mnaslund@smail.umaryland.edu
Eaddy
Michael T
MT
Kruep
Eric J
EJ
Hogue
Susan L
SL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001378:Azasteroids / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016527:Drug Costs; D000068538:Dutasteride; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018120:Finasteride / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008329:Managed Care Programs; D006278:Medicare; D015995:Prevalence; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States
D001378:Azasteroids; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018120:Finasteride; D000068538:Dutasteride