Statewide Price Variation for Generic Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Medications.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the geographic and pharmacy-type variation in costs for generic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) medications in order to improve drug price transparency and reduce health disparities. Medical therapy for BPH can be expensive, having significant implications for uninsured and underinsured patients. METHODS: We generated a 20% random sample of all pharmacies in Pennsylvania and queried each for the uninsured cash price of a 30-day prescription of tamsulosin 0.4mg daily, finasteride 5mg daily, oxybutynin immediate release 5mg TID and oxybutynin XL 10mg daily. Our primary objectives were to identify price variation based on pharmacy type (i.e., big chain and independent) and between geographic regions (predetermined by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council Database). We fit multivariable quantile regression models to test for an association between drug price and region after controlling for pharmacy type. RESULTS: Among 575 retail pharmacies contacted, 473 responded (82% response rate). The median cash price was significantly higher for big chain pharmacies than for independent pharmacies for tamsulosin ($66 vs. $15), finasteride ($68 vs. $15), oxybutynin immediate release ($49 vs. $35), and oxybutynin XL ($79 vs. $31) (all p < 0.05). When controlling for region, the median and 75th percentile price of all drugs was significantly higher for big chain pharmacies. When controlling for pharmacy type, regional variation was noted in all four drugs at the 75th percentile price and was greater for independent pharmacies. CONCLUSION: Compared to independent pharmacies, big chain pharmacies charged significantly more for generic BPH medications to uninsured patients. However, independent pharmacies demonstrated more regional variation in their pricing.

Review of Economic Value Drivers of the Treatment of Overactive Bladder.

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a symptom-driven condition with economic burden estimated to be on the order of several hundred dollars or euros per patient in some North American and European countries. This work reviews recently published economic models to evaluate how health states are defined, what cost components are considered, and what utility values are used to estimate the cost effectiveness of OAB pharmacotherapies, botulinum toxin, or sacral neuromodulation. It was found that no clear standard exists for determining OAB health states, although most were defined by some measure of incontinence frequency. Costs of physician visits and incontinence pads were included in nearly all models; however, OAB-associated depression and nursing home costs were rarely included, despite being large cost drivers of global economic burden studies. Utility values used in the models ranged from 0.544 to 0.933, highlighting the uncertainty associated with how OAB patients value health-related quality of life. More research is warranted so that health states providing delineations among OAB symptom severity and quality of life are clinically and economically meaningful as well as meaningful to affected patients.

Differential Prescribing of Antimuscarinic Agents in Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment.

BACKGROUND: Oral oxybutynin has been associated with the development of cognitive impairment. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to describe the use of oral oxybutynin versus other antimuscarinics (e.g., tolterodine, darifenacin, solifenacin, trospium, fesoterodine, transdermal oxybutynin) in older adults with documented cognitive impairment. METHODS: This is a population-based retrospective analysis of antimuscarinic new users aged ≥ 66 years from January 2008 to December 2011 (n = 42,886) using a 5% random sample of Medicare claims linked with Part D data. Cognitive impairment was defined as a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, dementia, use of antidementia medication, and memory loss/drug-induced cognitive conditions in the year prior to the initial antimuscarinic claim. We used multivariable generalized linear models to assess indicators of cognitive impairment associated with initiation of oral oxybutynin versus other antimuscarinics after adjusting for comorbid conditions. RESULTS: In total, 33% received oral oxybutynin as initial therapy. Cognitive impairment was documented in 10,259 (23.9%) patients prior to antimuscarinic therapy. Patients with cognitive impairment were 5% more likely to initiate another antimuscarinic versus oral oxybutynin (relative risk [RR] 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-1.06). The proportion of patients with cognitive impairment initiated on oral oxybutynin increased from 24.1% in 2008 to 41.1% in 2011. The total cost of oral oxybutynin, in $US, year 2011 values, decreased by 10.5%, whereas the total cost of other antimuscarinics increased by 50.3% from 2008 to 2011. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest opportunities for quality improvement of antimuscarinic prescribing in older adults, but this may be hampered by cost and formulary restrictions.

[A retrospective, observational and multicentre study on patients with hyperactive bladder on treatment with mirabegron and oxybutinine under usual clinical practice conditions]. / Estudio observacional retrospectivo multicéntrico de pacientes con vejiga hiperactiva en tratamiento con mirabegrón y oxibutinina en condiciones de práctica clínica habitual.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate therapeutic persistence, healthcare resources, medical costs and adverse events of oxybutynin and mirabegron treatments in patients with overactive bladder in routine medical practice. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An observational, retrospective, multicentre study was carried out using the records of patients attended to in 3 different geographic locations (Barcelona, Girona, Asturias). An analysis was made on the 2 study groups (oxybutynin and mirabegron). Follow-up time was one year. Persistence was defined as the time (months), without discontinuation of the initial treatment, or without change of treatment at least 60 days after the initial prescription. Primary endpoints: comorbidity, healthcare resources used, and adverse events. The data was analysed using the SPSSWIN Program, with a significance of P<.05. RESULTS: Of the total of1,277 patients included in the study, 42.9% were on oxybutynin and 57.1% mirabegron. The mean age was 69.3 years and 53.2% were female. Demographic characteristics and morbidity were similar between the drugs and had a similar persistence (35.0% oxybutynin vs. 32.2% mirabegron, P=.294), although their costs were lower (1,151.2 vs. €1,809.6, P<.001). The biggest differences were observed in the price of medication (279.2 vs. €692.3, P<.001; a variation of: -€413.1); and adverse events (9.7 vs. 4.9%, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated with oxybutynin vs. mirabegron for overactive bladder had similar persistence with the treatment, lower healthcare costs, but with higher oxybutynin vs. mirabegron adverse reaction rates.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of solifenacin versus oxybutynin immediate-release in the treatment of patients with overactive bladder in the United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE: To carry out a cost-utility analysis comparing initial treatment with solifenacin 5 mg/day vs oxybutynin immediate-release (IR) 15 mg/day for the treatment of patients with overactive bladder (OAB) from the perspective of the U.K. National Health Service (NHS). METHODS: A Markov model with six health states was developed to follow a cohort of OAB patients treated with either solifenacin or oxybutynin during a 1-year period. Costs and utilities were accumulated as patients transited through the health states in the model and a drop-out state. Some of the solifenacin patients were titrated from 5 mg to 10 mg/day at 8 weeks. A proportion of drop-out patients were assumed to continue treatment with tolterodine ER. Utility values were obtained from a Swedish study and pad use was based on a multinational clinical trial. Adherence rates for individual treatments were derived from a U.K. database study. For pad use and utility values, the drop-out state was split between those patients who were no longer receiving treatment and those on second-line therapy. Patients on second-line therapy who drop-out were referred for a specialist visit. Results were expressed in terms of incremental cost-utility ratios. RESULTS: Total annual costs for solifenacin and oxybutynin were £504.30 and £364.19, respectively. First-line drug use represents 49% and 4% of costs and pad use represent 23% and 40% of costs for solifenacin and oxybutynin, respectively. Differences between cumulative utilities were small but were greater for solifenacin (0.7020 vs. 0.6907). The baseline incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was £12,309/QALY. CONCLUSION: Under the baseline assumptions, solifenacin would appear to be cost-effective with an incremental cost-utility of less than £20,000/QALY. However, small differences in utility between the alternatives and the large number of drop-outs means that the results are sensitive to small adjustments in the values of utilities assigned to the drop-out state.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of newer anticholinergic drugs for urinary incontinence vs oxybutynin and no treatment using data on persistence from the Swedish prescribed drug registry.

UNLABELLED: Study Type - Therapy (cost effectiveness). Level of Evidence 2a. What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Anticholinergic drugs are a common treatment alternative in urinary incontinence, which results in large costs for caregivers. So far, most cost-effectiveness analyses of anticholinergic drugs have focused on small putative differences between the newer anticholinergics. This study takes a novel approach by treating the clinical effects of the newer alternatives as similar and evaluating them as a group in relation to no treatment and oxybutynin (immediate release). It also uses registry data to account for persistence. OBJECTIVE: • To analyse the cost-effectiveness of newer anticholinergic drugs in relation to oxybutynin immediate release (IR) and no treatment for patients with urgency urinary incontinence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: • A decision analytic model was constructed. • Results were collected from randomized trials and combined with registry data on persistence of medicine use and estimated number of severe adverse events. • The setting corresponds to Swedish clinical practice. • The costs and effects of the treatment options were analysed over a period of 1 year. Costs included drug costs, treatment costs and costs for pad use. Patients' utilities were based on treatment effect and the lack or presence of adverse events. RESULTS: • No treatment was the least costly treatment but also resulted in the fewest number of quality adjusted life years (QALYs). • Treatment with newer anticholinergic drug medications is the most costly option but also the most efficient treatment. Sensitivity analyses showed that the results were robust. • Treatment with newer anticholinergics resulted in a cost per QALY gained of €21 045 compared with no treatment and no effect and €65 435 compared with no treatment and placebo effect. Compared with oxybutynin IR, the cost per QALY gained was €37 119. These calculations are based on relatively low pad costs, resulting in higher costs per QALY for the original drugs. CONCLUSIONS: • The newer anticholinergic medications are likely to be cost effective in relation to oxybutynin IR. • The cost-effectiveness of the newer anticholinergics compared with no treatment depends on assumptions of the effect of no treatment, the severity of the treated condition and the treated individual's risk of adverse events. • Treatment is less likely to be cost effective for elderly persons or for persons otherwise at higher risk for adverse events.

Canadian cost-effectiveness analysis of solifenacin compared to oxybutynin immediate-release in patients with overactive bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost effectiveness of solifenacin 5 mg/day compared to oxybutynin immediate-release (IR) 15 mg/day in patients with overactive bladder, from the perspective of the Canadian healthcare (payer) system. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A Markov model was adapted to estimate the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) of solifenacin and oxybutynin IR over a 1-year time horizon, based on efficacy and discontinuation data from the Canadian VECTOR (VEsicare in Comparison To Oxybutynin for oveRactive bladder patients) study. In the model, patients who discontinued treatment were offered tolterodine extended release 4 mg/day as second-line. Model robustness was tested using various sensitivity analyses. Utility values were derived from published literature; incontinence pads were included in a secondary analysis. RESULTS: In the base-case analysis, total costs over 1 year were CAN$695 and CAN$550 in the solifenacin and oxybutynin IR groups, respectively. When including incontinence pad costs, there was an incremental saving of CAN$1,831 per patient with solifenacin. Solifenacin was associated with an incremental QALY gain of 0.01 over 1 year. In the base-case analysis without incontinence pads, the incremental cost-utility ratio for solifenacin was CAN$14,092. Probabilistic analyses showed no overlap in the 95% confidence intervals for total costs or QALYs with or without incontinence pads. Solifenacin was cost effective in >90% of cases, based on a willingness-to-pay threshold of CAN$50,000 per additional QALY, irrespective of whether pad costs were included in the model. The most influential variables were the discontinuation rates and the cost of incontinence pads. Limitations of the analysis relate mainly to the fact that data in the VECTOR study were collected using a direct questioning approach, which might have increased the reporting of dry mouth. CONCLUSIONS: Solifenacin 5 mg/day was a cost-effective treatment compared with oxybutynin IR 15 mg/day. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT00431041 (of the VECTOR study, upon which the analysis in this paper was based).

The cost-effectiveness of solifenacin vs fesoterodine, oxybutynin immediate-release, propiverine, tolterodine extended-release and tolterodine immediate-release in the treatment of patients with overactive bladder in the UK National Health Service.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness of solifenacin vs other antimuscarinic strategies commonly used in UK clinical practice, based on the results of a recent published review. METHODS: Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome is characterized by symptoms of urgency, frequency, incontinence and nocturia. Pharmacological treatment comprises oral antimuscarinic agents, which are divided into older-generation treatments, including oxybutynin, and new-generation treatments, comprising solifenacin, tolterodine, darifenacin and fesoterodine. The latter have reduced central nervous system penetration and have better selectivity for the M3 subclass of acetylcholine receptors, resulting in improved tolerability. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of antimuscarinics provided an opportunity for an economic evaluation of these agents using a rigorous assessment of efficacy. A cost-utility analysis was undertaken using a 1-year decision-tree model. Treatment success was defined separately for urgency, frequency and incontinence, with efficacy data taken from the recent review. Treatment persistence rates were taken from the Information Management System database. Utility values for the calculation of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were taken from published sources. The analysis included costs directly associated with treatment for OAB, i.e. antimuscarinic therapy, consultations with general practitioners, and outpatient contacts. Resource use was based on expert opinion. Costs were reported at 2007/2008 prices. Extensive deterministic and probabilistic analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the base-case results. RESULTS: Solifenacin was associated with the highest QALY gains (per 1000 patients) for all three outcomes of interest, i.e. urgency (712.3), frequency (723.1) and incontinence (695.0). Solifenacin was dominant relative to fesoterodine, tolterodine extended-release (ER) and tolterodine immediate-release (IR), and cost-effective relative to propiverine ER for urgency, frequency and incontinence. Solifenacin was not found to be cost-effective relative to oxybutynin IR for the frequency and incontinence outcomes, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of > pound30,000/QALY threshold. CONCLUSIONS: Solifenacin provided the greatest clinical benefit and associated QALYs for all three outcomes of interest across all therapies considered, and to be either dominant or cost-effective relative to all other new-generation agents, but not cost-effective relative to oxybutynin for frequency and incontinence.

Transdermal oxybutynin.

*Oxybutynin inhibits contraction of the detrusor muscle in the overactive bladder by binding to muscarinic M(3) receptors and blocking acetylcholinergic activation. *The transdermal oxybutynin system, applied twice weekly, delivers continuous oxybutynin over a 96-hour patch wear period. The transdermal route of administration avoids the extensive first-pass metabolism of oxybutynin to its active metabolite, N-desethyloxybutynin. *In two well designed trials in patients with overactive bladder, transdermal oxybutynin 3.9 mg/day decreased the number of incontinence episodes and increased average voided volume to a significantly greater extent than placebo. Urinary frequency was improved to a significantly greater extent with transdermal oxybutynin than with placebo in one trial but not the other. *There was no significant difference between transdermal oxybutynin and extended-release oral tolterodine for any of these endpoints. *Health-related quality-of-life improvements with transdermal oxybutynin were shown in patients with overactive bladder in the open-label MATRIX trial, as demonstrated by significant improvements in all domains of the King's Health Questionnaire. *Transdermal oxybutynin is generally well tolerated in patients with overactive bladder. The majority of patients who discontinued transdermal oxybutynin treatment in two pivotal trials did so because of application-site reactions. However, none discontinued treatment because of dry mouth.

Retrospective evaluation of outcomes in patients with overactive bladder receiving tolterodine versus oxybutynin.

PURPOSE: The frequency, relative risk, resource utilization, and costs related to comorbidities associated with overactive bladder (OAB) were studied. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients with OAB who initiated treatment with tolterodine extended release (ER), oxybutynin ER, or oxybutynin immediate release (IR) between January 2001 and December 2002 was conducted to evaluate the frequency, relative risk, resource utilization, and costs related to three specific comorbidities associated with OAB: urinary tract infections (UTIs), depression, and fracture. Two patient cohorts (tolterodine ER versus oxybutynin ER and tolterodine ER versus oxybutynin IR) were matched on a 1:1 basis according to their propensity to receive a prescription for tolterodine ER. RESULTS: The frequency and relative risk of UTIs were significantly lower in the tolterodine ER group than in the oxybutynin ER and oxybutynin IR groups. The relative risk of depression was also lower in the tolterodine ER group than the oxybutynin ER and oxybutynin IR groups; however, the differences were only significant in the tolterodine ER versus oxybutynin IR comparison. The utilization of UTI- and depression-related services and the number of antiinfective and antidepressant prescriptions were significantly lower in the tolterodine ER group than in the oxybutynin ER group. UTI- and depression-related costs were generally lower in the tolterodine ER group than in the oxybutynin ER or oxybutynin IR group. CONCLUSION: Treatment of OAB patients with tolterodine ER was associated with reduced frequency, relative risk, medical and pharmacy resource utilization, and incurred costs related to selected OAB-associated comorbidities compared with treatment with oxybutynin ER or oxybutynin IR.

Prediction of Medicare drug formulary drugs for treatment of overactive bladder.

PURPOSE: With the establishment and signing into law the Medicare and Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003, also known as Medicare Part D, medical costs are expected to soar. In fact, the program is expected to cost more than a trillion dollars through 2015. Establishment of the Medicare Part D drug formulary will allow cost containment but still absorb patient and physician preferences as well as a consideration of efficacy and safety data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Potential Medicare formulary choices were examined in the anticholinergic class, as commonly used by urologists, and small in number of available drugs. Formulary selection parties and issues were individually analyzed, including the government in respect to cost containment, patients in relation to efficacy and cost, physicians in relation to preferences and influence and drug companies in relation to lobbying power, country of base of operations and market shares. Costs to Medicare and patients were calculated using discount Internet sites for pricing and simulated using Medicare Part D benefits. RESULTS: Generic oxybutynin is likely to be included because it is the least expensive to patients and Medicare, but it has the lowest efficacy. Detrol LA is likely to be the long acting choice due to efficacy, cost and manufacture by a United States based company. CONCLUSIONS: A simulation of cost analysis of anticholinergics for treatment of overactive bladder would help urologists better understand the Medicare formulary selection process.

Pharmacological management of overactive bladder : a systematic and critical review of published economic evaluations.

Overactive bladder is a common condition, with recent findings estimating the prevalence in adults at about 15%. Symptoms, including urinary urgency, high voiding frequency and urge incontinence, have been shown to decrease patients' quality of life. Given its high prevalence, the economic burden of overactive bladder is also substantial, with a recent estimate placing the annual cost in the US at 9.1 billion US dollars (year 2000 values). The objective of this review is to provide a critical appraisal of published economic evaluations of pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for overactive bladder. Published economic evaluations of treatments for overactive bladder have focused entirely on pharmacological treatments -- mainly on the two most commonly used drugs, oxybutynin and tolterodine, each of which is available in immediate- and extended-release formulations. Ten economic evaluations (more than half are cost-effectiveness studies) have been published. Modelling with decision trees or Markov models has been the predominant method. Evaluations comparing drug therapy with no treatment have concluded that drug therapy is cost effective. Analyses comparing the formulations of oxybutynin and tolterodine have produced highly inconsistent results, largely due to the sources of data employed for effectiveness and treatment discontinuation rates. There are no evaluations of drugs relative to non-pharmacological treatment, and there are other significant gaps in the economic evaluations of treatment to date. These include gaps resulting from a lack of reliable data on the performance of these drugs in real-world settings, particularly data on long-term persistence with treatment. A more definitive pharmacoeconomic comparison of oxybutynin and tolterodine formulations, incorporating all available clinical data, and other treatment options would help direct treatment.

Economic impact of extended-release tolterodine versus immediate- and extended-release oxybutynin among commercially insured persons with overactive bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To examine levels of persistence and compliance as well as the economic impact of extended-release tolterodine (tolterodine ER) versus immediate- and extended-release oxybutynin (oxybutynin IR or oxybutynin ER) among commercially-insured patients with overactive bladder (OAB). METHODS: Patients with OAB who initiated tolterodine ER, oxybutynin IR, or oxybutynin ER between January 2001 and December 2002 were identified from the PharMetrics Patient-Centric database; the first medication used in this timeframe was used for treatment group assignment (ie, patients were only in 1 group). Exploratory assessment of persistency and compliance was conducted among all treated patients: subjects were matched 1:1 based on the estimated propensity score for tolterodine ER in remaining analyses. Measures included patient characteristics as well as levels of medication, outpatient and inpatient resource utilization, and costs. Primary comparisons were made descriptively; costs were evaluated using generalized linear models with a gamma distribution and log-link function. RESULTS: Compliance did not differ between tolterodine ER (77.4%) and oxybutynin ER (74.3%), but was lower for oxybutynin IR (60.9%). Mean (+/- standard deviation) duration of therapy was higher for tolterodine ER (139 +/- 132 days) versus oxybutynin ER (115 +/- 122) and oxybutynin IR (60 +/- 85). Totals of 7257 and 5936 matched pairs were available for tolterodine ER versus oxybutynin ER and oxybutynin IR comparisons, respectively. The mean age was 54 years in all groups; the majority was women. Utilization of outpatient and inpatient medical services was consistently lower among tolterodine ER patients in both comparisons. Total costs were slightly lower for tolterodine ER versus oxybutynin ER (dollar 8303 +/- dollar 18 802 vs dollar 8862 +/- dollar 18 684) and oxybutynin IR (dollar 9975 +/- dollar 24860 vs dollar 10521 +/- dollar 22 602); differences were significant after multivariate adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: Use of tolterodine ER results in comparable compliance to oxybutynin ER and longer duration of use relative to either form of oxybutynin. In addition, tolterodine ER may be cost-effective relative to oxybutynin IR or oxybutynin ER among commercially-insured persons with OAB.

Treatment of overactive bladder: a model comparing extended-release formulations of tolterodine and oxybutynin.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare 1-year total healthcare costs for patients with overactive bladder (OAB) initiating treatment with extended-release formulations of tolterodine and oxybutynin: tolterodine tartrate extended-release capsules (tolterodine ER) versus extended-release oxybutynin chloride (oxybutynin ER). METHODS: A model was developed from the payer perspective using data from the PharMetrics Patient-Centric database. Monthly discontinuation rates were derived from a cohort of newly treated patients with OAB (tolterodine ER, n = 15 394 or oxybutynin ER, n = 7934). All were assumed to be receiving therapy for at least 1 month. Medical management costs were based on reimbursement for all services for a matched cohort of patients taking tolterodine ER and oxybutynin ER. Medical management costs for those discontinuing therapy were based on patients receiving OAB care without pharmacotherapy (n = 29 992). Drug costs were from AnalySource (December 2004). RESULTS: After the 11-month follow-up period, 21% of patients taking tolterodine ER and 15% of patients taking oxybutynin ER remained on original therapy. One-year average total costs per patient for those started on tolterodine ER were dollar 8876 and dollar 9080 for oxybutynin ER, a difference of dollar 204 per year. Sensitivity analyses indicated results were robust to changes in drug cost and probability of discontinuation. When discontinuation rates were held equal, cost differences continued to favor tolterodine ER (21%, dollar 272/yr; 15%, dollar 233/yr). CONCLUSION: Those taking tolterodine ER had lower monthly drug and medical management costs. This resulted in a total average annual cost savings of dollar 204 per patient for those started on tolterodine ER. At the end of 1 year, patients with OAB were more likely to remain on original drug treatment taking tolterodine ER versus oxybutynin ER.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of extended-release formulations of oxybutynin and tolterodine for the management of urge incontinence.

INTRODUCTION: Oxybutynin and tolterodine are two drugs widely used for the management of overactive bladder and urge urinary incontinence. The once-daily, extended-release formulations benefit from being well tolerated and efficacious. However, their costs, compared with generic immediate-release (IR) oxybutynin, are significantly greater. This study compared the cost effectiveness of oxybutynin extended-release (Oxy-XL), tolterodine extended-release (Tol-ER), tolterodine immediate-release (Tol-IR) and oxybutynin immediate-release (Oxy-IR). STUDY DESIGN: A cost-effectiveness model. METHODS: A systematic review that identified appropriate randomised clinical trials provided evidence on efficacy. Empirical models of drug effects (number of incontinent-free weeks) and persistence (proportion of patients still on therapy) were constructed in order to determine clinical effectiveness which was combined with cost data (direct medical costs to the UK NHS, year 2001 values) to calculate the drugs' cost-effectiveness from the perspective of the NHS. Univariate sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the results. PATIENTS: Hypothetical cohort of patients with urge incontinence associated with overactive bladder. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: The incremental cost per incontinent-free week for Oxy-IR (versus no treatment) ranged from pound sterling 2.58 to pound sterling 16.59. Oxy-XL and Tol-ER were more effective than Oxy-IR but at additional costs per incontinent-free week. Tol-IR did not appear to be a cost-effective option as it was less effective and more costly than the extended-release formulations. Uncertainty surrounding the health and cost consequences of early discontinuation affected these results, although the model results were robust to parameter uncertainty. CONCLUSION: Oxy-IR, Oxy-XL and Tol-ER appear to be cost-effective options for the management of urge incontinence from the NHS perspective. A decision among the treatments depends on the acceptable cost per additional incontinent-free week.

Canadian economic comparison of extended-release oxybutynin and immediate-release tolterodine in the treatment of overactive bladder.

BACKGROUND: Overactive bladder (OAB) is a condition characterized by urgency, increased frequency of micturition, or urge incontinence. It affects a considerable segment of the population, particularly with increasing age. Pharmacotherapy is one of the most common approaches to the treatment of OAB. OBJECTIVE: This article describes the development and results of a model comparing health-economic outcomes for the new extended-release (XL) formulation of oxybutynin and immediate-release (IR) tolterodine in a population of community-dwelling Canadian adults with OAB. METHODS: A Markov model was developed to compare health-economic outcomes over the course of 1 year. Effectiveness and treatment-persistence data were derived from the OBJECT (Overactive Bladder: Judging Effective Control and Treatment) trial, a 3-month comparison of oxybutynin XL 10 mg and tolterodine IR 4 mg, and were used, together with data from the literature (identified through a MEDLINE search of articles published between 1990 and 2003), to project outcomes beyond the trial period. Severity-specific cost profiles for incontinence were developed. In the principal analyses, cost items were limited to drug therapy, physician visits, use of pads or other protection, and laundry costs. Costs are reported in 2002 Canadian dollars. RESULTS: Costs after 1 year were estimated to be an average of $32 less per patient for oxybutynin XL compared with tolterodine IR, and 3.1 additional patients in every 100 who received oxybutynin XL were expected to attain complete continence compared with those who received tolterodine. During the course of 1 year, patients receiving oxybutynin XL were expected to have a mean 16.5 additional incontinence-free days compared with those receiving tolterodine IR. The results were sensitive to relative drug prices. In the other sensitivity analyses, however, oxybutyrin XL maintained its advantage over a wide range of inputs. CONCLUSION: The results of these analyses suggest that when priced equivalently, oxybutynin XL would reduce costs and provide better results than tolterodine IR over 1 year of treatment.

Acupuncture reflexotherapy in the treatment of sensory urgency that persists after transurethral resection of the prostate: a preliminary report.

AIMS: In this study, we wanted to evaluate whether acupuncture reflexotherapy is able to treat the sensory irritative components of LUTS (lower urinary tract symptoms) that persist after transurethral resection of the prostate. METHODS: We have evaluated 42 patients, randomly selected into three groups: 14 patients received placebo, 15 patients received oxybutynin, and 13 patient were treated with electrostimulation by acupuncture reflexotherapy. RESULTS: Before treatment, the mean maximum flow rate (Qmax) was 21.0 +/- 3.2 mL/sec, the mean International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) score was 12.9 +/- 4.2, the mean I-PSS Quality of Life (IPSS QoL) score was 3.6 +/- 1.2. At the first check-up performed after 3 months, we could observe that the I-PSS and QoL scores were 12.6 +/- 4.3 and 3.8 +/- 1.3 in the group who received placebo; the scores decreased to 11.1 +/- 3.2 and to 3.1 +/- 1.0, respectively, in the 15 patients treated with oxybutynin and decreased to 6.1 +/- 2.6 and 1.3 +/- 1.1, respectively, in the 13 patients who underwent acupuncture reflexotherapy. At 1-year follow-up, these parameters were practically similar. The voiding diaries allowed us to deduce that the average number of daytime voidings decreased by 8% in patients who received oxybutynin and decreased by 20% in 13 patients who underwent reflexotherapy; the average number of nocturnal micturitions decreased by approximately 20% and 60%, respectively, in patients who received oxybutynin and reflexotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: This study has pointed out that acupuncture reflexotherapy has a real benefit in patients with sensory urgency that persists after transurethral resection of the prostate.

Costs and resources associated with the treatment of overactive bladder using retrospective medical care claims data.

The objectives of this study were to determine age- and gender-specific drug treatment prevalence rates for overactive bladder (OAB), and to compare resource use and costs among MCO members receiving drug treatment for OAB. Administrative claims data from seven affiliated health plans were analyzed for 8,661 members with a diagnosis or treatment indicative of OAB during 1998. Resource use and associated costs were analyzed over a four-month follow-up. In 1998, the prevalence of OAB among plan members was 1.1%. Of the patients with OAB, 71% did not receive pharmacotherapy. After multivariate analysis, treatment with tolterodine, oxybutynin, or other OAB treatment did not significantly affect the percent change in total per patient per month (PPPM) costs compared with the group not receiving a pharmacologic agent. Although the adjusted percent change in PPPM pharmacy costs was significantly higher within the tolterodine group, medical and total PPPM costs were not.