title: Economic analysis of aprepitant-containing regimen to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy in Hong Kong.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aim to evaluate the cost effectiveness of aprepitant-containing regimens for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) among patients receiving high emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC) in Hong Kong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Both cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses were conducted utilizing a decision-analytic model to measure the economic costs and clinical outcomes associated with the aprepitant-containing regimen versus a standard regimen in the prevention of CINV. Analyses were conducted on the basis of four published double-blind randomized clinical trials involving different usages of serotonin receptor antagonists.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of aprepitant-containing regimens is associated with an improvement in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) compared with non-aprepitant regimens. For cisplatin-based chemotherapy, the incremental cost per QALY gained is HKD 239,644 (1 USD approximates HKD 7.8) when ondansetron is administered on day 1 only. The incremental cost per QALY is HKD 440,950 when ondansetron is used on day 1 to 4. For anthracycline and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy, the aprepitant-containing regimen is associated with incremental cost of HKD 195,442 per QALY gained. Similar results were obtained when other 5HT3 receptor antagonists are used. The use of aprepitant was associated with higher cost of drug but lower costs of emesis-related management. With the cost-effectiveness threshold set at the World Health Organization endorsed criteria of three times gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (three times GDP per capita in Hong Kong in 2011 is HKD 798,078), the current analyses showed that the aprepitant-containing regimen was cost-effective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients undergoing HEC, the use of aprepitant as the anti-emetic is cost-effective in Hong Kong.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory in Oncology in South China, Sir YK Pao Center for Cancer, Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong Cancer Institute and Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Stephen L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jen
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pellissier
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077608:Aprepitant; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D009025:Morpholines / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009025:Morpholines; D000077608:Aprepitant
keywords: Hong Kong; aprepitant; cost-effectiveness; emesis