Cost-Effectiveness of Fixed-Dose Combinations Therapies for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Treatment

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive lung disorder associated with decline of respiratory function, affects 10.2% of Spanish adults (40-80 years of age). This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of two fixed-dose combinations of long-acting muscarinic antagonist and long-acting β2-agonist therapies for COPD, with Spanish National Health System perspective.

A Markov model with five health states based on severity levels defined by GOLD 2010 criteria was used to simulate in monthly cycles the evolution along a 5-year period of a cohort of moderate-to-severe COPD patients, treated with aclidinium-formoterol (ACL/FF) 400/12 µg or tiotropium-olodaterol (TIO/OLO) 5/5 µg fixed-dose combinations. Clinical data on lung-function improvement were obtained from a network meta-analysis and applied to mean baseline forced-expiratory-volume in 1 s (FEV₁) for the first 24-weeks period. Natural history for lung-function decline (41 ml/year) was applied until the end of simulation. Risk of exacerbation and pneumonia occurrence were considered. Pharmaceutical costs were calculated with dosages according to indication and public ex-factory prices. The health state-specific disease management and event costs, and utilities were derived from the literature. Total costs (€ 2016) and benefits [life-year-gained (LYG) and quality-adjusted-life-year (QALY)] were discounted (3.0% yearly). Sensitivity analyses were performed.

Both therapies provided the same outcomes (4.073 LYG and 2.928 QALY) at 5-year period. ACL/FF 400/12 µg provided marginally lower costs (€ - 332) compared to TIO/OLO 5/5 µg.

ACL/FF 400/12 µg was a cost-saving therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe COPD in Spain, and provided equivalent effects compared to TIO/OLO 5/5 µg.