[Medicoeconomic aspects of benign prostatic hyperplasia medical treatment]

Abstract

Introduction: The medicoeconomic issues of drug management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are essential due to the aging population and the increasing number of therapeutic options. It is thus essential to assess the cost-effectiveness in order to define the most appropriate therapeutic strategies economically. The objective of this work was to conduct a literature review on the medicoeconomic studies on the drug therapy of BPH.

Method: After analyzing the literature, 43 articles were found and 9 were selected for their relevance.

Results: Based on Markov models, we observed that: combination therapy and combined treatments (alphablockers and inhibitors of 5-alpha reductase [5ARI]) seemed to have the best cost-effectiveness. Then came the alphablockers, less expensive but exposing to a greater risk of progression and to the necessity of surgical treatments. Then came the 5ARI monotherapy and finally simple monitoring.

Conclusion: The Markov models are imperfect tools, and resources invested in care depend on both the economic model and the value that individuals and society give to efficiency and cost.

Keywords: Benign prostatic hyperplasia; Cost-effectiveness; Coût–efficacité; Drug; Hypertrophie bénigne de la prostate; Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio; Lower urinary tract symptoms; Symptômes du bas appareil urinaire; Traitement médicamenteux.