Analysis of the economic burden associated with comparing biological therapy to traditional conventional therapies for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing, and pruritic inflammatory skin disease with a high incidence rate, posing a considerable challenge for patients, society, and the healthcare system due to its chronic nature. In China, there is a scarcity of cost-effectiveness evidence concerning AD treatment. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of two prevalent treatments for moderate-to-severe AD—traditional conventional therapy (CT) and biological therapy (BT). Methods: A retrospective cohort study involving 97 patients with moderate-to-severe AD was conducted. Data were collected from a public tertiary dermatology hospital in Shandong Province, China. Primary outcome measures included total economic cost and treatment efficacy evaluated using the Severity Scoring of AD (SCORAD) index. The sustained treatment effect over six months was analyzed from a societal perspective. Results: This study included a total of 97 participants, with 47 receiving BT treatment and 50 receiving CT treatment. The entire treatment duration was 6 months, and the endpoint evaluation was the skin SCORAD score of the patients after 6 months of treatment. The average cost per person for BT was ¥28719.23, and for CT it was ¥8020.78. The cost-effectiveness ratio for BT was lower (¥34,609.82), signifying a lower cost per unit of effect gained. Patients utilizing CT incurred an additional expenditure of ¥31,853.56 for each additional unit of effectiveness compared to BT. Additionally, one-way sensitivity analysis underscored the cost of BT and its effectiveness as the most sensitive parameters in the model. Conclusion: BT emerged as the most cost-effective choice in the treatment of moderate-to-severe AD based on cost-effectiveness analysis. This research investment aids decision-makers in determining first-line treatment options for moderate-to-severe AD.