Long-acting medications for the hyperkinetic disorders. A note on cost-effectiveness

Area of Science:

• Pharmacoeconomics
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Health Technology Assessment

Background:

• New long-acting medications for ADHD present advantages over short-acting drugs, but with increased acquisition costs.
• Clinical decisions should balance higher costs with additional benefits, centering on relative cost-effectiveness.
• Previous assessments, like NICE, focused primarily on drug cost, overlooking compliance and broader clinical evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of new long-acting ADHD medications.
• To compare economic evaluations with existing health technology assessments.
• To provide health economic support for updated ADHD treatment guidelines.

Main Methods:

• Review and analysis of economic models, including cost-utility analysis.
• Inclusion of clinical evidence, differentiating efficacy from effectiveness.
• Incorporation of treatment compliance impact on cost-effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Cost-effectiveness evaluations considering treatment compliance favor long-acting ADHD medications more than suggested by prior assessments.
• Drug cost was identified as a primary driver in earlier, limited economic models.
• Existing economic evaluations have limitations, including short time horizons.

Conclusions:

• Long-acting ADHD medications demonstrate a more attractive cost-effectiveness profile when compliance is factored in.
• Updated economic evaluations support recent treatment recommendations for ADHD.
• Future research should examine long-term outcomes and sequelae associated with ADHD treatments.