The aim of the study was to perform an economic analysis of a new therapy in 11 countries (Australia, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK) to assess the cost of treating the gastrointestinal (GI) events associated with the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Estimates of GI event-related costs were based on the results of resource utilisation questionnaires. Resources required for the treatment and follow-up of GI events were identified and converted into costs from society and payer perspectives.
From the perspective of society, the total per-event cost of managing GI-related events varies from $US51 to $US772 for GI discomfort, from $US108 to $US1100 for anaemia, from $US145 to $US1200 for ulcer and from $US1923 to $US5473 for serious GI events requiring hospitalisation. From the payer perspective, the total per-event cost varies from $US47 to $US680 for GI discomfort, from $US144 to $US762 for anaemia, from $US229 to $US795 for ulcer and from $US1787 to $US6729 for serious GI events requiring hospitalisation. The total cost is driven by hospital expenses for those events requiring hospital admission. For GI discomfort, physician consultations are generally the cost driver, whereas for ulcer and anaemia, cost is primarily driven by the rate of endoscopy.
Costs associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-related GI events differ significantly across countries as a result of variations in resources consumed and price/tariff policies.