[Health-economic aspects of newer anti-ulcer drugs]

Abstract

Peptic ulceration is a common condition and is associated with considerable expense. Introduction of H2-blockers in the latter part of the nineteen seventies offered a new and effective therapeutic alternative for the patient with chronic peptic ulceration. On the basis of a review of the literature, the present authors have attempted to assess the consequences of the introduction of H2-blockers for the expenses of peptic ulceration. Introduction of medication is found to have reduced the expenses involved in peptic ulceration on account of elective operations but on account of the increased costs of medication, the total direct costs involved in the treatment of peptic ulceration have possibly increased after the introduction of the medication. Attempts are made to compare this with the reduction in the indirect costs achieved by reduction in loss of production involved by fewer early retirals and sick leaves on account of peptic ulceration, fewer deaths connected with peptic ulceration among young persons and, in general, improved quality of life for patients with peptic ulceration although it is difficult to provide a valid estimation of the savings involved.