Burrell A, Nullten MJ, Hardens M, Van Loon JM; International Society of Technology Assessment in Health Care. Meeting.

Annu Meet Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Int Soc Technol Assess Health Care Meet. 1996; 12: 44.

Schipholweg 9f 2316 XB, Leiden, Netherlands

According to literature, it appears that the total economic burden of rheumatoid diseases is considerable. The costs related to the gastrointestinal (GI) side effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a substantial component of the total economic burden of rheumatoid disorders. Clinical trials have shown that NSAID-induced gastropathy of meloxicam compared favorably with other NSAIDs. An economic evaluation has been performed to estimate the total direct health care costs of a 90 day period for RA and a 15 day period for OA of symptomatic treatment with meloxicam (7.5 mg and 15 mg) versus NSAIDs usually prescribed in the French health care setting. The cost analysis has been based on decision analytical techniques using a therapeutic outcome model of meloxicam treatment including GI side effects, both in hospital and in the ambulatory setting. The costs have been calculated from a health insurance perspective. Economic measures that have been used are the number of hospital days and outpatient consultations, drug therapy and endoscopic examinations. Clinical data have been derived from pooled results of a large number of clinical trials, which were performed in various countries comparing a total of 3,845 patients: 2,415 in the meloxicam group and 1,430 in the group of comparative NSAIDs amongst which diclofenac (23%), naproxen (17%) and piroxicam (60%). Data on the treatment pattern of GI side-effects in France and on resource utilization have been obtained from experts in the field of rheumatology and gastroenterology. Since no price has yet been established for meloxicam, the price of meloxicam has been assumed to be 90% of piroxicam which is prescribed most often in the French market. The calculated savings of treatment with meloxicam are 11% for OA and RA versus the treatment with "usual" NSAIDs. Meloxicam induces a decrease in direct medical costs: fewer consultations, examinations, and hospitalizations due to fewer GI side effects. The results indicated that from a health insurance perspective, a therapy with meloxicam is cost saving over the study period in the current French health care setting.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Diclofenac
• Digestive System
• France
• Humans
• Naproxen
• Osteoarthritis
• Piroxicam
• Thiazines
• Thiazoles
• meloxicam
• therapy
• hsrmtgs

Other ID:

• HTX/97607300

UI: 102222612

From Meeting Abstracts