Premium
A systematic review on the quality, validity and usefulness of current cost‐effectiveness studies for treatments of neovascular age‐related macular degeneration
Author(s) -
Elshout Mari,
Webers Carroll A.B.,
Reis Margriet I.,
Schouten Jan S.A.G.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.13824
Subject(s) - aflibercept , ranibizumab , medicine , bevacizumab , macular degeneration , optometry , quality (philosophy) , medical physics , intensive care medicine , economic evaluation , ophthalmology , surgery , pathology , philosophy , epistemology , chemotherapy
Purpose Ophthalmologists increasingly depend on new drugs to advance their treatment options. These options are limited by restraints on reimbursements for new and expensive drugs. These restraints are put in place through health policy decisions based on cost‐effectiveness analyses ( CEA ). Cost‐effectiveness analyses need to be valid and of good quality to support correct decisions to create new treatment opportunities. In this study, we report the quality, validity and usefulness of CEA s for therapies for nAMD . Methods A systematic review in PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane was performed to include CEA s. Quality and validity assessment was based on current general quality criteria and on elements that are specific to the field of ophthalmology. Results Forty‐eight CEA s were included in the review. Forty‐four CEA s did not meet four basic model quality and validity criteria specific to CEA s in the field of ophthalmology (both eyes analysed instead of one; a time horizon extending beyond 4 years; extrapolating VA and treatment intervals beyond trial data realistically; and including the costs of low‐vision). Four CEA s aligned with the quality and validity criteria. In two of these CEA s bevacizumab as‐needed ( PRN ) was more cost‐effective than bevacizumab monthly; aflibercept ( VIEW ); or ranibizumab monthly or PRN . In two CEA s, ranibizumab ( PRN or treat and extent) was dominant over aflibercept. In two other CEA s, aflibercept was either more cost‐effective or dominant over ranibizumab monthly or PRN . Conclusion Two of the CEA s of sufficient quality and validity show that bevacizumab PRN is the most cost‐effective treatment. Comparing ranibizumab and aflibercept, either treatment can be more cost‐effective depending on the assumptions used for drug prices and treatment frequencies. The majority of the published CEA s are of insufficient quality and validity. They wrongly inform decision‐makers at the cost of opportunities for ophthalmologists to treat patients. As such, they may negatively influence overall patient outcomes and societal costs. For future ophthalmic treatments, CEA s need to be improved and only published when they are of sufficient quality and validity.