title: Long-term cost and efficacy analysis of latanoprost versus timolol in glaucoma patients in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate 5-year effectiveness and cost between latanoprost or timolol monotherapy in a pilot trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective, multi-center trial performed at 6 sites in Germany of patients who had a diagnosis of primary open-angle or pigmentary glaucoma, in at least one eye, initiated on monotherapy with latanoprost or timolol maleate. Qualified consecutive charts were reviewed in which 5-year efficacy, safety and cost data was abstracted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-seoen latanoprost and 49 timolol patients were included, at the final visit no difference existed between the two groups in disc parameters including: rim area, rim area/disc area ratio, cup volume or vertical cup/disc ratio (P>0.05). There was no difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) between the initial latanoprost (17.4±2.6) and timolol (16.3±2.8mmHg) groups. There was less change in medicines over the follow-up period (0.1 vs 0.8) and fewer medications at the final visit (1.2 vs 1.8) with latanoprost compared to timolol. No patient treated with latanoprost discontinued therapy during follow-up, while 12% discontinued timolol mostly due to inadequate IOP control. Cost/year was less with initial timolol ($458±236) as compared to latanoprost ($552±202).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients begun on latanoprost or timolol and followed over 5 years may have similar clinical outcomes. However, timolol patients may require more medicines and medicine changes to control IOP for long-term, but at a lower cost.
authors: Westfalische Wilhelms-Universitat, Augenarztpraxis, Münster, Germany.
authors: Ulrich
authors: U
authors: Thelen
authors: Dietmar
authors: D
authors: Schnober
authors: Sonja
authors: S
authors: Schölzel
authors: Michael S
authors: MS
authors: Kristoffersen
authors: Lindsay A
authors: LA
authors: Nelson
authors: Jeanette A
authors: JA
authors: Stewart
authors: William C
authors: WC
authors: Stewart
keywords: Germany; economic; efficacy; glaucoma; latanoprost; safety; timolol
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