title: Cost-effectiveness of an 8% Capsaicin Patch in the Treatment of Brachioradial Pruritus and Notalgia Paraesthetica, Two Forms of Neuropathic Pruritus.
abstract: In brachioradial pruritus and notalgia paraesthetica, the 8% capsaicin patch is a novel and effective, but cost-intense, therapy. Routine data for 44 patients were collected 6 months retrospectively and prospectively to first patch application. The cost to health insurance and the patient, and patient-reported outcomes were analysed (visual analogue scale, numerical rating scale, verbal rating scale for pruritus symptoms, Dermatological Life Quality Index, and Patient Benefit Index). Mean inpatient treatment costs were reduced by €212.31, and mean outpatient treatment and medication costs by €100.74 per patient (p.p.). However, these reductions did not offset the high cost of the patch itself (€767.02 p.p.); thus the total cost to health insurance increased by €453.97 p.p. (p ≤ 0.01). The additional costs of therapy to the patient decreased by €441.06, thus the overall cost p.p. remained approximately the same (€3,306.03 vs. €3,318.94). Capsaicin patch therapy resulted in reduced pruritus, improved quality of life and greater patient benefit, thus long-term cost-efficiency analyses are necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology , University Hospital Münster,, DE-48149 Münster, Germany. sabine.steinke@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Steinke
authors.forename: Mandy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gutknecht
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zeidler
authors.forename: Anette Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dieckhöfer
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Herrlein
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lüling
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ständer
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
mesh_terms: D000982:Antipruritics / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D057968:Transdermal Patch / Q000191:economics*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D064232:Visual Analog Scale
chemical_list: D000982:Antipruritics; D002211:Capsaicin