RESUMO
The objective of this study was to compare the economic cost of adding sildenafil citrate (Viagra, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY) to treat selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)-induced erectile dysfunction with that of discontinuing antidepressant pharmacotherapy, switching patients to another SSRI, or adding a non-SSRI. Based on our real-world experience in an academic medical center, we performed an economic analysis of a hypothetical cohort of 1000 patients taking SSRIs on a course of acute and continuation treatment recommended by the American Psychiatric Association. We used standard costing of antidepressants, sildenafil, and unit costs for physician visits within a managed care environment and cost-of-illness methodology to calculate the annualized cost of depression for different treatment outcomes. After 6 months of SSRI treatment, the sildenafil add-on group had the lowest cost estimates compared with groups that discontinued SSRIs, substituted another SSRI (switching), or added a non-SSRI to the existing SSRI (augmentation). Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the physician visit was the single most important cost component in this hypothetical population and relapse/remission the most costly outcome. Sildenafil can be a cost-effective add-on therapy to control SSRI-induced erectile dysfunction. Healthcare payors should consider this when developing optimum treatment strategies for men with depression.
