Cyclosporine versus tacrolimus: cost-effectiveness analysis for renal transplantation in Brazil

• Published in: Revista de saúde pública 2015, Vol.49, p.13-13
• Main Authors: Guerra Júnior, Augusto Afonso, Silva, Grazielle Dias, Andrade, Eli Iola Gurgel, Cherchiglia, Mariângela Leal, Costa, Juliana de Oliveira, Almeida, Alessandra Maciel, Acurcio, Francisco de Assis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Análise Custo-Benefício; Artigos Originais; Cohort Studies; Cost Savings; Cost-Benefit Analysis - economics; Cyclosporine - economics; Cyclosporine - therapeutic use; Drug Administration Schedule; economia; efeitos de drogas; Estudos de Coortes; Female; Graft Survival; Health Policy & Services; Humans; Immunosuppressive Agents - economics; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Imunossupressores; Kidney Failure, Chronic - drug therapy; Kidney Failure, Chronic - economics; Kidney Failure, Chronic - surgery; Kidney Transplantation - economics; Male; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Sistema Único de Saúde; Sobrevivência de Enxerto; Tacrolimus - economics; Tacrolimus - therapeutic use; Tolerância ao Transplante; Transplante de Rim; uso terapêutico
• ISSN: 0034-8910; 1518-8787; 1518-8787; 0034-8910
• DOI: 10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005430

OBJECTIVE To analyze the cost-effectiveness of treatment regimens with cyclosporine or tacrolimus, five years after renal transplantation. METHODS This cost-effectiveness analysis was based on historical cohort data obtained between 2000 and 2004 and involved 2,022 patients treated with cyclosporine or tacrolimus, matched 1:1 for gender, age, and type and year of transplantation. Graft survival and the direct costs of medical care obtained from the National Health System (SUS) databases were used as outcome results. RESULTS Most of the patients were women, with a mean age of 36.6 years. The most frequent diagnosis of chronic renal failure was glomerulonephritis/nephritis (27.7%). In five years, the tacrolimus group had an average life expectancy gain of 3.96 years at an annual cost of R$78,360.57 compared with the cyclosporine group with a gain of 4.05 years and an annual cost of R$61,350.44. CONCLUSIONS After matching, the study indicated better survival of patients treated with regimens using tacrolimus. Moreover, regimens containing cyclosporine were more cost-effective [corrected].