Cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of the treatment of chronic hepatitis B with peginterferon alfa-2a, interferon alfa, and lamivudine in Lithuania

Giedrius Vanagas, Žilvinas Padaiga, Aušra Mickevičienė

Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Lithuania

Key words: cost-effectiveness; hepatitis B; interferon alfa; peginterferon alfa-2a; lamivudine; Lithuania.

Summary. Background. Chronic hepatitis B infection is an important health care problem worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, 10% to 15% of population is infected with hepatitis B virus. Nearly 100 new cases of acute hepatitis B are annually registered in Lithuania, but official statistics covers only 8–25% of all disease incidence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the treatment of chronic hepatitis B with peginterferon alfa-2a and compare it to treatment with interferon alfa and lamivudine in Lithuania.

Material and methods. A Markov model was used to evaluate long-term cost-effectiveness of the treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a and to compare it with treatment with interferon alfa and lamivudine. Peginterferon alfa-2a was administered by subcutaneous injections at a dosage of 180 μg every week for 48 weeks; interferon alfa, 6 million IU three times a week for 24 weeks; and lamivudine, 100 mg per day from 48 weeks to 5 years for HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B and 100 mg per day up to 5 years in HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B.

Results. Treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a gained 1.179 life years as compared to 0.658 life years gained with treatment with interferon alfa; incremental costs per incremental life-year gained (LYG) were 51 256.92 Lt (14 845.03 €). Treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a gained 0.545 quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) with incremental costs per incremental QALY of 48 980.08 Lt (14 185.61 €). Treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a had twice higher cost-effectiveness than treatment with interferon alfa: 50 4167.00 Lt (146 016.85 €) vs. 954 020.08 Lt (276 303.31 €), respectively. Costs for a complete response were also twice lower. Treatment with peginterferon alfa-2a gained 0.757 incremental LYG more compared to lamivudine (48-week course). Comparing incremental cost-effectiveness using peginterferon alfa-2a for treatment, incremental costs per incremental LYG were 41 993.67 Lt (12 162.21 €); additionally there was a gain of 0.792 incremental QALYs, while incremental costs for incremental QALY were 40 096.19 Lt (11 612.66 €). Complete response costs were 83 515.98 Lt (24 187.89 €) less compared to lamivudine (48-week course).

Conclusions. Treatment of chronic hepatitis B prolongs patients’ overall survival and quality-adjusted life. Peginterferon alfa-2a was the most effective drug registered in Lithuania for CHB treatment.

Correspondence to G. Vanagas, Department of Preventive Medicine, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 4, 50161 Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: vanagas@kmu.lt

Received 21 January 2009, accepted 7 December 2010