COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF OMALIZUMAB FOR THE TREATMENT OF SEVERE PEDIATRIC
ALLERGIC ASTHMA- RESULTS OF A REAL-LIFE STUDY IN SPAIN
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe Pediatric Allergic Asthma (SPAA) induces a
huge economic burden in terms of direct, indirect and intangible costs.
The use of omalizumab for the treatment of these patients has produced a
significant improvement in several clinical outcomes, but at the same
time, the cost for the management of the disease has also increased. The
aim of this report was to evaluate whether the use of omalizumab is
cost-effective. METHODS A sample of 426 children with SPAA from
the ANCHORS study was used to calculate the Incremental Cost
Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) for the avoidance of Moderate to Severe
Exacerbations (MSE), and also for the improvement in childhood Asthma
Control Test (c-ACT) or the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ5). We
retrospectively collected data of health encounters and drug consumption
before and up to six years after the beginning of the treatment with
omalizumab. RESULTS The ICER per avoided MSE was \euro2,107
after one year, and it consistently decreased to \euro656 in those
followed up to six years. Similarly, the ICER for the Minimally
Important Difference in control tests showed a decrease from
\euro2,059 to \euro380 per each 0.5 points of improvement in ACQ5,
and from \euro3,141 to \euro2,322 per each 3 points improvement in
c-ACT, at years 1 and 6 respectively. CONCLUSION The use of OMZ
is a cost-effective option for most children with uncontrolled SPAA,
mainly those who have frequent exacerbations, showing progressively
reduced costs in successive years of treatment.