Cost-benefit analysis of sustained-release bupropion, nicotine patch, or both for smoking cessation

The nicotine transdermal patch (NTP) has been shown previously to be a cost-effective smoking cessation intervention. This is the first economic analysis comparing the NTP with the only non-nicotine-containing pharmacological intervention, bupropion HCl.

Decision-tree analysis, based on a previously published cost-benefit smoking-cessation model, was used to determine the optimal treatment from the standpoint of costs versus benefits, from the employer's perspective. Base-case probabilities of successful quitting in our model came from clinical trial point-prevalence data at the end of a 1-year follow-up study (N = 893) comparing placebo, bupropion, NTP, and bupropion/NTP in combination, administered along with minimal counseling. Sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the effects of variations in base-case assumptions regarding the monetary benefits that would accrue if an intervention were successful, probabilities of quitting, drug costs, cost of lost work time for a health care provider visit, and cost of the visit itself.

The analysis showed that bupropion is more cost-beneficial than either NTP or bupropion/NTP, with a net benefit in the first post-quit year of up to $338 per employee who attempts to quit compared with $26 for NTP, $178 for the two in combination, and $258 for placebo. These results were robust to most plausible variations in the assumptions used in the model. One exception was the monetary benefit of successful intervention (assumed in the base-case to be $1,654). If this benefit were actually less than $1, 112, placebo (i.e., minimal counseling with no pharmacological intervention) would be more cost-beneficial than any of the active treatments.

From an employer's perspective, bupropion 300 mg/day for 9 weeks is a more cost-beneficial smoking cessation intervention than the nicotine patch, and under most scenarios, bupropion is also more cost-beneficial than placebo.