title: Cost-effectiveness of disease-modifying therapy for multiple sclerosis: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in the United States compared to basic supportive therapy without DMT for patients with relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Using data from a longitudinal MS survey, we generated 10-year disease progression paths for an MS cohort. We used first-order annual Markov models to estimate transitional probabilities. Costs associated with losses of employment were obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Medical costs were estimated using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reimbursement rates and other sources. Outcomes were measured as gains in quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and relapse-free years. Monte Carlo simulations, resampling methods, and sensitivity analyses were conducted to evaluate model uncertainty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using DMT for 10 years resulted in modest health gains for all DMTs compared to treatment without DMT (0.082 QALY or <1 quality-adjusted month gain for glatiramer acetate, and 0.126-0.192 QALY gain for interferons). The cost-effectiveness of all DMTs far exceeded $800,000/QALY. Reducing the cost of DMTs had by far the greatest impact on the cost-effectiveness of these treatments (e.g., cost reduction by 67% would improve the probability of Avonex being cost-effective at $164,000/QALY to 50%). Compared to treating patients with all levels of disease, starting DMT earlier was associated with a lower (more favorable) incremental cost-effectiveness ratio compared to initiating treatment at any disease state.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of DMT in MS results in health gains that come at a very high cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave., Box 644, Rochester, NY 14620, USA. katia_noyes@urmc.rochester.edu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Noyes
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bajorska
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chappel
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Schwid
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weinstock-Guttman
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Dick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008390:Markov Chains; D018803:Models, Economic; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents