title: Cost-effectiveness of Maintenance Treatment with a Barrier-strengthening Moisturizing Cream in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis in Finland, Norway and Sweden.
abstract: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disorder with high prevalence, especially in the Nordic countries. Effective maintenance therapy during symptom-free episodes may prolong the time to eczema relapse according to a previously published clinical trial. The present study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of a barrier-strengthening moisturizer containing 5% urea, compared with a moisturizer with no active ingredients during eczema-free periods. A health economic microsimulation model, based on efficacy data from the randomized clinical trial, analysed the cost-effectiveness of the barrier-strengthening treatment in Finland, Norway and Sweden. The barrier-strengthening moisturizer was cost-saving compared with the moisturizer with no active ingredients in all 3 countries. The result was confirmed in all but one sensitivity analysis. In conclusion, the barrier-strengthening moisturizer is cost-effective as maintenance therapy for patients with atopic dermatitis compared with a moisturizer with no active ingredients.
authors: IHE, The Swedish Institute for Health Economics, P.O. Box 212, SE-220 02 Lund, Sweden. hn@ihe.se.
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Norrlid
authors: Frida
authors: F
authors: Hjalte
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Lundqvist
authors: Åke
authors: Å
authors: Svensson
authors: Gunnel Ragnarson
authors: GR
authors: Tennvall
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017046:Cost Savings; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016527:Drug Costs; D004643:Emollients / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018803:Models, Economic; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014508:Urea / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004643:Emollients; D014508:Urea