Cost-effectiveness analysis of intravenous paricalcitol vs. oral calcitriol in the treatment of hyperparathyroidism secondary to chronic kidney disease.

INTRODUCTION

Hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) secondary to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by high levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), hyperplasia of the parathyroid glands and cardiovascular disease. Selective and non-selective and selective vitamin D-receptor activators, calcimimetics, are available in the Brazilian market to reduce PTH levels.

OBJECTIVES

To develop a cost-effectiveness (C/E) and budgetary impact (BI) analysis of intravenous paricalcitol vs. oral calcitriol for patients on dialysis with SHPT, from the perspective of the Brazilian Public Health Care System (SUS).

METHODOLOGY: We built a decision-tree model to analyze C/E, which considered the outcome of avoided death and a time horizon of 1 year. As for the BI analysis, two scenarios were considered, one of demand and one of epidemiological approach, based on data from the Brazilian Society of Nephrology.

RESULTS

The analysis showed that the C/E ratio was R$ 1,213.68 per year, and an incremental effectiveness of 0.032, referring to avoided death. The incremental C/E ratio was R$37,927.50 per death averted by paricalcitol. It was estimated that the incremental BI with the expansion of paricalcitol use will be between R$1,600,202.28 and R$4,128,565.65 in the first year, considering the main and epidemiological scenarios. At the end of 5 years after the expansion of its use, an incremental BI was estimated between R$ 48,596,855.50 and R$ 62,90,555.73.

CONCLUSION

Intravenous paricalcitol has superior efficacy and similar safety to oral calcitriol, reducing the overall mortality of dialysis patients, although it implies a higher cost.