Cost-effective analysis of dual therapy in epilepsy, a study from India
- Author:
Sarita Goyal
;
DC Dhasmana
;
Deepak Goel
;
MC Gupta
;
Taruna Sharma
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Neurology Asia
2011;16(4):309-314
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background and Objective: For improving overall care in epileptic patients, careful evaluation of
pharmacotherapy, seizure control, quality of life (QOL) and cost effectiveness are helpful but such
data are relatively meagre from developing countries. The present study was undertaken to audit all
these said factors with different drug combinations comparing older with newer drugs in the setting
of a tertiary care epilepsy hospital in India. Methods: Forty patients were divided into four treatment
groups, of ten each which were valproic acid + lamotrigine (Group-I), valproic acid+ clonazepam
(Group-II), oxcarbazepine + clobazam (Group-III) and phenobarbitone + phenytoin (Group-IV), based
on most commonly used dual therapy in local clinical practice. The patients were followed at monthly
intervals for six months. Effi cacy was assessed by reduction in seizure frequency, QOL was assessed
by using an adapted version of 31- items questionnaire QOLIE-31 (quality of life in epilepsy) and
cost effectiveness was calculated as ratio of direct cost of medicine and improvement in quality of
life. Results: There was a signifi cant reduction in seizure frequency and improvement in QOL in all
four groups at 2nd and 6th months. Cost-effectiveness analysis at the end showed that group-IV paid
the least for same improvement in QOL.
Conclusion: Older drugs are equally effi cacious as compared to newer in controlling seizure frequency
and improving QOL, but are more cost effective.
- Full text:P020150818601212085026.pdf
