Direct cost analysis for patients with severe asthma receiving omalizumab treatment

Abstract

Aim: The present study aims to reveal direct cost analysis of patients with severe allergic asthma receiving omalizumab treatment. Material and Methods: Twenty-two adults with severe allergic asthma who were treated with omalizumab and were routinely checked on the 16th week, 1st year, and 3rd year of treatment were included in the study. Clinical and demographic features of subjects were retrospectively documented before and after omalizumab treatment as well as pharmaceutical, emergency and hospital costs. Results: The monthly treatment cost per patient was higher during the 16th week, 1st year, and 3rd year (€411.80±190.84, €409.7±211.57, €404.2±157.30 respectively) when compared with the pre-treatment period (€107.91±48.62) (p<0.001). Similarly monthly emergency visit cost per patient at 16th week, 1st year, and 3rd year of omalizumab treatment (€0.03±0.13, €0.19±0.51, €0.56±0.41 respectively) as well as the monthly hospitalization cost per patient at 16th week, 1st year, and 3rd year of omalizumab treatment (€1.44±5.57, €1.50±5.27, €16.3±13.8 respectively ) were both lower compared to pre-treatment period (€1.82±1.23 and €17.69±10.84 respectively) (p<0.001 for both). Statistically significant drop was observed in the frequency of asthma exacerbations as well as emergency visits, hospitalizations and number of patients receiving systemic corticosteroid with omalizumab treatment. An improvement was also detected in asthma control test scores, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and peak expiratory flow values of patients compared to the baseline values. Conclusion: Omalizumab treatment is clinically effective and although it adds an extra pharmaceutical cost to the patients’ management it reduces the emergency and hospital costs.

Keywords

• Asthma management
• severe asthma
• cost analysis
• omalizumab

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