title: Long-term outcomes of prostaglandin analog versus timolol maleate in ocular hypertensive or primary open-angle glaucoma patients in Europe.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the direct costs of therapy over 5 years of a European monotherapy cohort begun on a prostaglandin (PTG) versus timolol in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, multicenter, active-controlled, observational study. Data were abstracted for European patients treated as initial monotherapy in 1996 or afterward, with 5 years of available records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study included 271 patients (166 on a PTG and 105 on timolol at baseline). The average cost/month/patient over 5 years was $45.47±12.61 for PTG and $31.50±15.47 for timolol (P<0.001, based on German prices). After 5 years, although there was no difference in number of glaucoma medicines prescribed between groups (1.0 PTGs and 1.1 timolol, P=0.41), the timolol group demonstrated a higher intraocular pressure (17.7±2.9 vs. 16.5±3.0 mm Hg, P<0.001), more medication changes (P=0.01), greater incidence of glaucomatous progression (P=0.04), and less patients persistent on original monotherapy (P<0.001) than the PTG cohort.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients originally on timolol monotherapy have a lower cost of care over 5 years than those started on a PTG. However, timolol patients during follow-up may demonstrate a higher intraocular pressure, more progression, more medication changes, and lower persistency of the original monotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holló
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Thelen
authors.forename: Miguel A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Teus
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quaranta
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferkova
authors.forename: Nikola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Babić
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Misiuk-Hojlo
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Mikropoulos
authors.forename: Bartlomiej J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kaluzny
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kozobolis
authors.forename: Ingrida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Januleviciene
authors.forename: Péter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kóthy
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Camara
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krzyzanowska-Berkowska
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cieślińska
authors.forename: Jeanette A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kristoffersen
authors.forename: Lindsay A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000577:Amides / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069580:Bimatoprost; D003008:Cloprostenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D016527:Drug Costs; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D013999:Timolol / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069557:Travoprost; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D003008:Cloprostenol; D000077338:Latanoprost; D013999:Timolol; D000069580:Bimatoprost; D000069557:Travoprost