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The economic impact of using alfuzosin 10 mg once daily in the management of acute urinary retention in the UK: a 6‐month analysis
Author(s) -
Annemans Lieven,
Cleemput Irina,
Lamotte Mark,
McNeill Alan,
Hargreave Timothy
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-410x.2005.05685.x
Subject(s) - alfuzosin , placebo , medicine , urinary retention , prostatectomy , urology , clinical trial , prostate , lower urinary tract symptoms , alternative medicine , pathology , cancer
OBJECTIVE To calculate the economic consequences of using alfuzosin 10 mg once daily for managing acute urinary retention (AUR) related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). METHODS We examined whether alfuzosin use during hospitalization for AUR and for 6 months after a successful trial without catheter (TWOC) is cost effective compared to placebo and immediate prostatectomy, from the perspective of patients managed in the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. A decision‐analysis model was developed to estimate the costs of various treatment options within the first 6 months after a first episode of AUR. Clinical data were obtained from a large randomized clinical trial comparing alfuzosin 10 mg with placebo, and from published reports. Cost data were obtained from both NHS and resource‐use data gathered during the clinical trial. A Monte Carlo analysis, allowing variability in all uncertain variables of the model, was used to calculate the uncertainty surrounding the results. RESULTS Treating patients with alfuzosin during initial hospitalization for AUR and in the first 6 months after a successful TWOC generates a cost‐saving of £349 relative to placebo. Savings related to immediate prostatectomy were £892; both savings were significant ( P < 0.05). Alfuzosin treatment was associated with a lower rate of prostatectomy after discharge from hospital after a successful TWOC. CONCLUSION Treatment with alfuzosin 10 mg once daily before and after a successful TWOC has both clinical and economic benefits. It decreases the need for emergency surgery for BPH and reduces treatment costs in the first 6 months.