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- Title
Asthma: resource use and costs for inhaled corticosteroid vs leukotriene modifier treatment--a meta-analysis.
- Authors
Halpern, Michael T.; Khan, Zeba M.; Stanford, Richard H.; Spayde, Katharine M.; Golubiewski, Maceij
- Abstract
<bold>Objective: </bold>To compare the effects of inhaled corticosteroid treatment with leukotriene modifier treatment on medical resource use and costs for asthma patients. <bold>Study Design: </bold>Meta-analysis combining results from published and unpublished studies. <bold>Data Sources: </bold>Studies were identified from the MEDLINE and EMBASE databases and the GlaxoSmithKline internal database study registers. Two independent reviewers evaluated the identified studies; studies meeting specified inclusion criteria were abstracted and summarized by meta-analysis with a random effects model. <bold>Outcomes Measured: </bold>Hospitalization rate, emergency department visit rate, emergency department costs, drug costs, total asthma-related costs, and total medical care costs. <bold>Results: </bold>Patients taking inhaled corticosteroids had: a significantly lower annual rate of hospitalization than those taking leukotriene modifiers (2.2% vs 4.3%, respectively; P<.05); a greater decline in hospitalization rate (before vs after therapy initiation) than those taking leukotriene modifiers (decline of 2.4% vs 0.55%; P<.01); a lower annual rate of emergency department visits than those taking leukotriene modifiers (6.2% vs 7.7%; P<.005); lower total asthma-related medical costs than those taking leukotriene modifiers (P<.05) and a 17% reduction in overall total medical care costs (P not significant). <bold>Conclusions: </bold>Patients with asthma treated with inhaled corticosteroids have significantly fewer asthma-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits and lower total asthma-related health care costs than patients treated with leukotriene modifiers. These meta-analysis findings are consistent with results from randomized controlled trials showing improvements in lung function for patients taking inhaled corticosteroids as opposed to leukotriene modifiers.
- Subjects
ASTHMA; RESPIRATORY therapy; CORTICOSTEROIDS; LEUKOTRIENES; META-analysis
- Publication
Journal of Family Practice, 2003, Vol 52, Issue 5, p382
- ISSN
0094-3509
- Publication type
journal article