Cost Analysis and Rational Use of Anti-Glaucoma Therapy in a Tertiary Hospital in Ghana

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. In Ghana, 19.4% of all blindness recorded is due to glaucoma. Reducing intraocular pressure medically (using eye drops) is the evidence-based therapeutic option. To determine the rational use and undertake cost analysis of anti-glauc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ClinicoEconomics and outcomes research 2021-01, Vol.13, p.619-627
Main Authors: Ofei-Palm, Charles Nii Kwade, Tagoe, Naa Naamuah, Jatoe, Dong, Agyare, Angela, Ankrah, Daniel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenergic beta blockers
Analysis
anti-glaucoma therapy
Beta blockers
Blindness
Cost analysis
Developing countries
Drug dosages
Economic aspects
Eye
ghana
Glaucoma
Health aspects
korle-bu
LDCs
Ophthalmic drugs
Original Research
Patients
Pharmacy
Prescription drugs
rational drug use
Teaching hospitals
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Summary:Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. In Ghana, 19.4% of all blindness recorded is due to glaucoma. Reducing intraocular pressure medically (using eye drops) is the evidence-based therapeutic option. To determine the rational use and undertake cost analysis of anti-glaucoma drugs among patients attending clinic at the Lions International Eye Centre (LIEC), Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. In this cross-sectional study, we reviewed all prescriptions presented to the pharmacy unit from 01/12/2015 to 31/03/2016. The dispensed drops were classified, and all anti-glaucoma drugs were identified. This was followed by cost analysis. A total of 588 prescriptions were captured, 27.3% (161/588) contained an anti-glaucoma medication. The mean number of anti-glaucoma medications was 1.71 of which 52.7% was prescribed to females. Prostaglandin analogs (PGA) were the most prescribed (37% (102/276)), followed by beta blockers (25.4% (70/276)), carbonic anhydrase group of medicines (16.3% (45/276)), combined beta blockers (11.2% (31/276)), alpha agonists (8.7% (24/276)) and miotics (1.4% (4/276)). The median (IQR) cost of anti-glaucoma therapy per prescription per month was GHC 65.00 (GHC38.5-GHC140) about [US$16.25 (US$ 9.6-US$35)]. Azopt (Brimonidine) was the most expensive with daily treatment cost of GHC 5.8 (about US$ 1.45), whilst the least expensive drug with a daily treatment cost of GHC 0.14 (about US$ 0.035) was timolol eye drops. Prostaglandin analogs though expensive remain the most preferred treatment for managing glaucoma at the Korle-Bu Eye Centre in Ghana. This may adversely affect treatment among the poor since prostaglandins analogs are currently not covered by insurance.
ISSN:1178-6981
1178-6981
DOI:10.2147/CEOR.S311058