Economic assessment of the use of tinzaparin in the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism in France
Lewis, D.; Allenet, B.; Achkar, A.; Elias, A.; Khalifé, K.; Simonneau, G.
Presse Medicale 30(31 Part 1): 1539-1548
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0755-4982 PMID: 11721493 Document Number: 533169
This pharmacoeconomic study was conducted to determine the cost of using tinzaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH), administered intravenously, in comparison with non-fractionated heparin (NFH) for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE) in France. A decision algorithm indicating the therapeutic schedules and their consequences was constructed from data collected during a large-scale multicentric study and from data obtained from interviews with French physicians implicated in the treatment of pulmonary embolism. This model was used to estimate costs and to compare per patient expenditures for the two therapeutic schedules. Cost of instituting treatment per patient (excluding costs common to both schedules) was 202 euros for NFH and 77 euros for tinzaparin (delta 125 euros in favor of tinzaparin). Including follow-up costs for the 90 day analysis period, tizaparin reduced costs by 123 euros per patient (211 versus 334 euros for patients treated with NFH). Taking into account the sole cost of management of the two critical events that occurred during NFH or tinzaparin (8 first days) treatment, tinzaparin reduced costs by 137 euros per patient (112 euros versus 249 euros respectively). Tinzaparin reduced health care costs for pulmonary embolism due to easier administration, less complex laboratory tests, and personnel time savings. The robustness of the results was confirmed by the sensitivity analysis.