Avaliação econômica das associações fixas de prostaglandina/prostamida e timolol no tratamento do glaucoma e da hipertensão ocular

Abstract

PURPOSE:To assess the 5-year cost, effectiveness and costeffectiveness of fixed combinations of prostaglandin or prostamide and timolol 0. 5% on glaucoma and/or ocular hypertension in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study evaluated the following fixed combinations: bimatoprost/timolol 0. 5% (BT), latanoprost/timolol 0. 5% (LT) and travoprost/ timolol 0. 5% (TT). Cost was obtained through mean number of drops in a sample of 5 containers of each medication, duration (days) and the average wholesale price (AWP). Effectiveness in reducing intraocular pressure IOP was derived from the literature. Daily, monthly, annually and 5-year cost was calculated. Costeffectiveness was defined as cost by each percentage of IOP reduction over 5 years. RESULTS: AWP, mean number of drops and mean duration (days) were: R$ 83. 07; 109. 4 and 54. 7 for BT; R$ 126. 03; 97. 0 and 48. 5 for LT and R$ 97. 47; 96. 0 and 48. 0 for TT. Mean percentage of IOP reduction, obtained from literature, was: 35. 10% for BT, 35. 00% for LT and 34. 70% for TT. Cost-effetiveness ratio (R$/%) was: 61. 02 for BT, 104. 71 for LT and 82. 53 for TT. BT was dominant over LT and TT. CONCLUSION: BT presented lower costs and better effectiveness when compared to LT and TT. The most cost-effective fixed combination was BT.