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PHOTOTHERAPY LESS COSTLY OPTION FOR TREATING PATIENTS WITH SEVERE PSORIASIS |
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Poster presented at American Academy of Dermatology
56th annual convention, Feb 2-6, 2007
Christopher B. Yelverton, MD, MBA1;
Amit Kulkarni, MS; Rajesh Balkrishnen, PhD; and Steven R. Feldman, MD, PhD1-3
Departments of Dermatology1,
Pathology2,
and Public Health Sciences3,
Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston Salem, NC
<read full poster> |
INTRODUCTION:
Published efficacy of UVB varies in published
studies, approaching 80% for narrow-band UVB. For those patients who find
office-based UVB difficult, home UVB offers a convenient treatment option.
PURPOSE:
To estimate cost of lifelong treatment of home [UVB]
phototherapy as compared with other forms of treatment for severe psoriasis.
TABLE 1. HOW TREATMENTS COMPARE
|
Treatment |
Annual Drug Cost |
Annual Tx Admin and Other |
Annual Laboratory |
Annual Follow-Up |
Present value of 30
year course |
|
Home UVB |
None |
$2,150 |
None |
$195 |
$7,085 |
|
Methotrexate |
$398 |
$412 |
$241 |
$390 |
$19,102 |
|
PUVA |
$816 |
$1,410 |
None |
$195 |
$37,591 |
|
Acitretin |
$4,471 |
None |
$137 |
$293 |
$75,113 |
|
Efalizumab |
$10,702 |
None |
$73 |
$293 |
$171,915 |
|
Etanercept |
$16,198 |
None |
$9 |
$390 |
$257,684 |
|
Adalimemab |
$17,818 |
None |
$9 |
$293 |
$281,282 |
|
Alefacept |
$17,910 |
$406 |
$1,597 |
$293 |
$319,356 |
DISCUSSION:
Given
the prolonged natural course of psoriasis, we felt it was prudent to estimate
costs of various therapies over a longer period. This new perspective for
examining the cost of treatment is able to better show the true cost, and
potential cost savings, of a given treatment to the patient, payor, and society.
Additionally, costs for the management of long-term complications can be
estimated.
Compared
to other options available, home UVB treatment has the potential to offer
convenience to patients and significant savings to the healthcare industry.
<read
full poster>
Want to know more?
Learn about the phototherapy units used in
this study
Learn more about adding
phototherapy to your practice |
