Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2017 Dec;18(9):1069-1078.
doi: 10.1007/s10198-016-0853-7. Epub 2016 Dec 2.

Cost analysis and cost-benefit analysis of a medication review with follow-up service in aged polypharmacy patients

Amaia Malet-Larrea  1 , Estíbaliz Goyenechea  2 , Miguel A Gastelurrutia  3 , Begoña Calvo  4 , Victoria García-Cárdenas  5 , Juan M Cabases  6 , Aránzazu Noain  3 , Fernando Martínez-Martínez  3 , Daniel Sabater-Hernández  3   5 , Shalom I Benrimoj  5
Affiliations

Cost analysis and cost-benefit analysis of a medication review with follow-up service in aged polypharmacy patients

Amaia Malet-Larrea et al. Eur J Health Econ. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Drug related problems have a significant clinical and economic burden on patients and the healthcare system. Medication review with follow-up (MRF) is a professional pharmacy service aimed at improving patient's health outcomes through an optimization of the medication.

Objective: To ascertain the economic impact of the MRF service provided in community pharmacies to aged polypharmacy patients comparing MRF with usual care, by undertaking a cost analysis and a cost-benefit analysis.

Methods: The economic evaluation was based on a cluster randomized controlled trial. Patients in the intervention group (IG) received the MRF service and the comparison group (CG) received usual care. The analysis was conducted from the national health system (NHS) perspective over 6 months. Direct medical costs were included and expressed in euros at 2014 prices. Health benefits were estimated by assigning a monetary value to the quality-adjusted life years. One-way deterministic sensitivity analysis was undertaken in order to analyse the uncertainty.

Results: The analysis included 1403 patients (IG: n = 688 vs CG: n = 715). The cost analysis showed that the MRF saved 97 € per patient in 6 months. Extrapolating data to 1 year and assuming a fee for service of 22 € per patient-month, the estimated savings were 273 € per patient-year. The cost-benefit ratio revealed that for every 1 € invested in MRF, a benefit of 3.3 € to 6.2 € was obtained.

Conclusion: The MRF provided health benefits to patients and substantial cost savings to the NHS. Investment in this service would represent an efficient use of healthcare resources.

Keywords: Aged; Cost and cost analysis; Cost-benefit analysis; Medication review; Pharmaceutical services; Pharmacists.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Fam Pract. 2003 Feb;20(1):77-82 - PubMed
    1. Pharmacoeconomics. 2000 Nov;18(5):459-68 - PubMed
    1. Pharmacotherapy. 2003 Jan;23(1):113-32 - PubMed
    1. J Adv Nurs. 2002 Mar;37(6):577-88 - PubMed
    1. Soc Sci Med. 2013 Sep;92:92-104 - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources