Cost-effectiveness of cimetidine and misoprostol in peptic ulcer disease

Frank Lanza, Karl E. Peace, Harvey Zimmerman, Brian Dickson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Numerous studies have demonstrated that both misoprostol and cimetidine are significantly superior to placebo or no therapy in the healing of an acute peptic ulcer. However, patients who are treated with misoprostol are less likely to have a relapse than patients treated with cimetidine. Relapsing patients also demonstrate a longer period between flare-ups if treated with misoprostol rather than cimetidine. This is especially true for patients without a history of previous ulcers. This study examines the cost-effectiveness implications of the differences in relapses as reflected by comparative costs of medical treatments, costs of side effects, and work loss costs. Costs are examined for both the costs of treatment during the first year and during subsequent years. It is estimated that the costs, as measured in 1986 dollars, for five-year treatment regimens for all patients are $3,890 for patients treated with misoprostol and $4,466 for patients treated with cimetidine. For patients without a history of previous ulcers, costs are $2,729 for patients treated with misoprostol and $4,804 for patients treated with cimetidine for the five-year period.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)449-457
Number of pages9
JournalTherapeutic Innovation and Regulatory Science
Volume22
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1988

Keywords

  • Cost benefit assessment
  • Misoprostol
  • Cimetidine
  • Treatment
  • Peptic Ulcer disease

DC Disciplines

  • Biostatistics
  • Public Health

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