Cost-effectiveness analysis of dapagliflozin versus glimepiride as monotherapy in a Chinese population with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
To evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of dapagliflozin (a novel sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor) versus glimepiride (a widely used sulfonylurea), when applied as monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China.



Literature screening, meta-analysis and indirect comparison were used to compare efficacy and safety between dapagliflozin and glimepiride. Direct medication costs and medical expenditure on treating diabetes related comorbidities were calculated based on published and local sources and reported in 2015 Chinese Renminbi (RMB). A discount rate of 3% was applied to both costs and health effects. The Cardiff model, an economic model designed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of comparator therapies in diabetes, was used to generate outputs including macrovascular and microvascular complications, diabetes-specific mortality, costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) over a time horizon of 40 years from the health provider perspective. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to assess uncertainty in the model results.



Compared with glimepiride, patients on dapagliflozin gained 1.01 QALYs, at a cost saving of RMB 49,065 in our simulated cohort. This resulted in a cost saving of RMB 48,585 per QALY gained with dapagliflozin. The cost-effectiveness results were robust to various sensitivity analyses including probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA).



Compared with glimepiride, dapagliflozin as monotherapy for T2DM is a more cost-effective treatment for T2DM patients on monotherapy in China. The weight control has been identified as the major contributor for the higher cost-effectiveness of dapagliflozin.
a Department of Global Health Management and Policy , School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University , New Orleans , LA , USA.
Hui
H
Shao
b Department of Pharmacy , Peking University Third Hospital , Beijing , China.
Suodi
S
Zhai
c Department of Endocrinology , Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University , Shanghai , China.
Dajin
D
Zou
a Department of Global Health Management and Policy , School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University , New Orleans , LA , USA.
Mohammed Umer
MU
Mir
a Department of Global Health Management and Policy , School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University , New Orleans , LA , USA.
Nadine K
NK
Zawadzki
a Department of Global Health Management and Policy , School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University , New Orleans , LA , USA.
Qian
Q
Shi
a Department of Global Health Management and Policy , School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University , New Orleans , LA , USA.
Shuqian
S
Liu
a Department of Global Health Management and Policy , School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University , New Orleans , LA , USA.
Lizheng
L
Shi
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005960:Glucosides / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018803:Models, Economic; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D005960:Glucosides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D013453:Sulfonylurea Compounds; C529054:dapagliflozin; C057619:glimepiride
Cost-effectiveness; dapagliflozin; glimepiride; monotherapy; type 2 diabetes mellitus