Cyclosporine versus tacrolimus: cost-effectiveness analysis for renal transplantation in Brazil

Authors

  • Augusto Afonso Guerra Júnior Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Faculdade de Farmácia; Departamento de Farmácia Social
  • Grazielle Dias Silva Secretaria de Estado de Saúde de Minas Gerais; Superintendência de Assistência Farmacêutica
  • Eli Iola Gurgel Andrade Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Social
  • Mariângela Leal Cherchiglia Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Social
  • Juliana de Oliveira Costa Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Faculdade de Farmácia; Departamento de Farmácia Social
  • Alessandra Maciel Almeida Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Faculdade de Medicina; Departamento de Medicina Preventiva e Social
  • Francisco de Assis Acurcio Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Faculdade de Farmácia; Departamento de Farmácia Social

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005430

Keywords:

Immunosuppressive Agents, therapeutic use, Kidney Transplantation, economics, Graft Survival, Transplantation Tolerance, drug effects, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Unified Health System, Cohort Studies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To analyze the cost-effectiveness of treatment regimens with cyclosporine or tacrolimus, five years after renal transplantation.METHODS This cost-effectiveness analysis was based on historical cohort data obtained between 2000 and 2004 and involved 2,022 patients treated with cyclosporine or tacrolimus, matched 1:1 for gender, age, and type and year of transplantation. Graft survival and the direct costs of medical care obtained from the National Health System (SUS) databases were used as outcome results.RESULTS Most of the patients were women, with a mean age of 36.6 years. The most frequent diagnosis of chronic renal failure was glomerulonephritis/nephritis (27.7%). In five years, the tacrolimus group had an average life expectancy gain of 3.96 years at an annual cost of R$78,360.57 compared with the cyclosporine group with a gain of 4.05 years and an annual cost of R$61,350.44.CONCLUSIONS After matching, the study indicated better survival of patients treated with regimens using tacrolimus. However, regimens containing cyclosporine were more cost-effective.

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Published

2015-01-01

Issue

Vol. 49 (2015)

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Guerra Júnior, A. A., Silva, G. D., Andrade, E. I. G., Cherchiglia, M. L., Costa, J. de O., Almeida, A. M., & Acurcio, F. de A. (2015). Cyclosporine versus tacrolimus: cost-effectiveness analysis for renal transplantation in Brazil. Revista De Saúde Pública, 49, 13. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-8910.2015049005430