Comparison of escitalopram versus citalopram for the treatment of major depressive disorder in a geriatric population.
OBJECTIVE
To compare escitalopram versus citalopram for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) in geriatric patients.


METHODS
Administrative claims data (2003-2005) were analyzed for patients aged > or =65 years with at least one inpatient claim or two independent medical claims associated with MDD diagnosis. Patients were continuously enrolled for at least 12 months, filled at least one prescription for citalopram or escitalopram and had no second generation antidepressant use during the 6-month pre-index date. Contingency table analysis and survival analysis were used to compare outcomes between the two treatment groups.


METHODS
Treatment persistence, hospitalization utilization, and prescription drug, medical, and total healthcare costs were analyzed. Outcomes were compared between patients initiated on escitalopram and those initiated on citalopram both descriptively and using multivariate analysis adjusting for baseline characteristics.


RESULTS
Among 691 geriatric patients, escitalopram-treated patients (n=459) were less likely to discontinue treatment (hazard ratio [HR]=0.83, p=0.049) or switch to another second generation antidepressant (HR=0.62, p=0.001) compared to patients treated with citalopram (n=232). Patients treated with escitalopram had a significantly lower hospitalization rate (31.2% vs. 38.8%, p=0.045) and 66% fewer hospitalization days based on negative binomial regression (p<0.001). While escitalopram patients had comparable prescription drug costs, they had lower total medical service costs (regression: $9748 vs. $19,208, p<0.001) and lower total healthcare costs (regression: $11,434 vs. $20,601, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This study's limitations include its small sample size, short observational periods and exclusivity of indirect costs.


CONCLUSIONS
Geriatric patients treated with escitalopram had better treatment persistence, fewer hospitalizations, and lower medical and total healthcare costs than patients treated with citalopram. Most of the cost reduction was attributable to significantly lower hospitalizations and total medical costs.
Wu
Eric
E
Analysis Group, Inc., Boston, MA 02199, USA. ewu@analysisgroup.com
Greenberg
Paul E
PE
Yang
Elaine
E
Yu
Andrew
A
Erder
M Haim
MH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015283:Citalopram / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D015283:Citalopram; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors