Pharmacoeconomic analysis of different therapeutic regimens prescribed to ACNE patients coming to out-patient department (OPD) of dermatology, venereology and leprosy in tertiary care hospital of northern India

Background: Acne is a cosmetic disease with long treatment duration and expenditure. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate pharmaoeconomic analysis of different acne treatment in northern population. Materials and Methods: It was a prospective observational study for a period of nine months. A total of 60 patients suffering from mild to moderate acne were enrolled and randomly divided into three groups of 20 each categorized as treatment A, treatment B and treatment C. The study tool used were case record form, Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), Cardiff Acne Disability Index (CADI). Results: In a total of 60 acne patients, 1:1 ratio of male to female was observed. Maximum number of patients (50%) fell in the age group 21-30 yrs. Improvement in severity of acne was highest in group B. The minimum cost per unit was observed in treatment A group (rupees 73 for 15 gm). Large cost variation was observed in treatment B (rupees 178.15, with a range 76-254.15). The Mean+SD of total cost of therapy for duration of three months was observed to be lowest for treatment B (526.57+223.32). For reduction in GAGS score the Mean+SD of treatment B was found to be the most effective (20.75+4.36). The Mean+SD scores for Average cost effectiveness ratio (ACER), was found to be lowest for treatment B (28.47+19.76). This ACER analysis reflected treatment B as most cost effective. Incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of treatment A as compared to treatment B was -1.67 while that of treatment C as compared to treatment B was -202.98. This ICER analysis also reflected treatment B as the most cost effective. Mean (DLQI) score and mean CADI score was lowest in treatment group B at third visit. Conclusion: Pharmacoeconomic analysis helps to find disease treatment that is cost economical and equally effective.