Cost benefit analysis of ulcer therapy
Horisberger, B.
Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift 114(20): 699-706
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0036-7672 PMID: 6429849 Document Number: 222375
Duodenal ulcer (DU) disease, one of the "common diseases" of economic importance, is widespread among the population. Epidemiological data indicate that in Germany (FRG) 400,000 patients underwent treatment in 1980. Some 625,000 ulcer attacks can be estimated for the total population, and 56,900 patients had to be hospitalized because of the disease. The overall effect of DU on the national economy was close to DM 1 billion (943.5 million). The average loss of working time cost DM 514 million (54.5%), and medical costs amounted to DM 429.5 million (45.5% for hospitalization and ambulatory care). Cimetidine, the H2-blocking agent, introduced in the FRG in 1977 as an antiulcer drug, has resulted in an economic gain of over DM 200 million to the national economy. If one deducts DM 43.1 million for additional expenditures caused by DU treatment with cimetidine, the net benefit of the drug in Germany in 1980 was DM 170.5 million, which corresponds to a cost-benefit ratio of 4:1. In addition, intangible medical and social benefits have been generated which cannot be expressed in monetary terms, e.g. a gain in 40-50 pain-free weeks per 100 patients treated with cimetidine.