Study, 2018
How cost-effective is medication for PMDD?
Medication for PMDD improved quality of life and was cost-effective. The choice between escitalopram and sertraline depends on how much improvement is valued.
What they did
Retrospective review of 49 PMDD patients who received medication for 3 or 6 menstrual cycles between October 2013 and February 2016. Researchers measured quality of life using a standard scale and estimated the cost per menstrual cycle. They compared the cost-effectiveness of escitalopram and sertraline.
What they found
After 6 menstrual cycles, medication improved quality of life scores by 0.190 points and quality-adjusted life years by about 0.2. The direct cost was 156,000 yen per patient. The cost-effectiveness was 823,000 yen per quality-adjusted life year gained. Escitalopram was more cost-effective than sertraline when willingness to pay was over 4,000,000 yen.
What it means for you
PMDD medication improves quality of life in a way that is considered cost-effective. The choice between specific medications depends on how much improvement is valued. The study is limited by looking only at direct costs (not lost work time) and being retrospective. Results are in Japanese yen and may not apply elsewhere.
49
PMDD patients
0.190
quality of life improvement
156,000
yen cost per patient
About the study
- Original title
- Improvements in Quality-Adjusted Life Years and Cost-Utility After Pharmacotherapy for Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder: A Retrospective Study
- Authors
- Kamagata E, Yamada K
- Journal
- Clinical drug investigation
- Year
- 2018
- Study design
- Study
- Participants
- 49
- What was tested
- Pharmacotherapy with escitalopram or sertraline for 3 or 6 menstrual cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s40261-017-0583-3
Topics
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