Multiple sclerosis (MS) is recognized as a chronic, autoimmune, and inflammatory disease. It is observed that the economic burden of MS is significant, largely due to the high cost of Disease-modifying drugs (DMDs), which are key drivers of healthcare expenditures. A systematic review was carried out to evaluate the cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of DMDs for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS).
Research for this review was conducted across various databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase. The scope of the search encompassed articles published between May 2001 and May 2023. Included studies were those written in English and Persian that examined the cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of DMDs in patients with MS. Data extraction was guided by the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist. The quality of economic evaluations was assessed using the Quality of Health Economics Studies Instrument (QHES), and all costs were converted to 2020 U.S. dollars using Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).
Systematic Review Reveals Economic Variability of Multiple Sclerosis Treatments
The search resulted in 1589 studies, with 49 studies found eligible for inclusion. Predominantly, these studies were based on a European setting. The majority of studies used the Markov model to assess cost-effectiveness. The lowest and highest numerical value of outcome measures ranged from -1,623,918 to 2,297,141.53. The cost of DMDs of RRMS varied, from the lowest at $180.67 to the highest at $1474840.19.
In conclusion, the findings of these studies suggest that for patients with MS, care-oriented strategies should take precedence over drug strategies. Among drug strategies with different prescribing methods, oral disease-modifying drugs for RRMS are recommended over injectable drugs and intravenous infusions.
Original Article DOI: 10.1186/s13561-024-00478-7
Original title: Cost-utility and cost-effectiveness analysis of disease-modifying drugs of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a systematic review
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