A cost evaluation of treatment alternatives in mild-to-moderate bleeding episodes in haemophilia patients with inhibitors in Turkey

Summary

A decision-analysis model was constructed to assess total direct health care costs of four current first-line treatment options for mild-to-moderate bleeding episodes in haemophilia patients with inhibitors in Turkey: recombinant activated Factor VII (rFVIIa); high-dose Factor VIII; prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC); and activated PCC (aPCC). Resource utilisation was based on a retrospective analysis of 105 bleeding episodes treated during the period January 1996 to December 2002. Clinical outcomes were derived from a combination of the retrospective patient data and literature review, both validated by an expert panel of Turkish haematologists. rFVIIa was more effective and resolved bleeds more quickly than any of the alternatives. rFVIIa and PCC were associated with similar direct treatment costs that were relatively lower than those compared with the other options. Given the better efficacy, rFVIIa should be considered the preferred treatment option in the management of haemophilia patients with inhibitors in Turkey.