Economic evaluation of early monotherapy versus delayed monotherapy or combination therapy in patients with acute hepatitis C in Germany.

Background Antiviral treatment of acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) almost doubles the chance of sustained virological response (SVR) compared with that achievable by treating chronic HCV. Aim To conduct a health economic evaluation comparing early and delayed therapies for acute HCV in Germany. Methods One hundred and thirty-three patients with acute HCV were evaluated in two early monotherapy (EMT) studies and 60 in a delayed therapy study. Efficacy was determined by SVR. In the EMT studies, patients were treated with either standard or pegylated interferon for 24 weeks. In the delayed therapy study, patients with persisting infection were treated with interferon monotherapy or combination therapy with ribavirin for a median of 36 weeks. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis based on the study results and a linear simulation model based on current treatment recommendations. Results The SVR rate for the sex-adjusted on-treatment analysis between early and delayed therapies was not significantly different (92.7 vs. 90.9%; P = 0.7). Medication costs accounted for more than 90% in both treatment options. Direct medical costs of early therapy ((sic)7064/patient) were (sic)321 lower than those of delayed therapy (P = 0.8). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was -178 (sic)/SVR(%) (confidence interval: -224 to 360 (sic)/SVR(%)). Average modeled direct medical costs of delayed combination therapy were from (sic)6745 to (sic)8299 per patient (from approximately 7% less up to 15% higher than EMT). Spontaneous viral clearance and therapy duration were the most sensitive variables. Conclusion There was no significant efficacy and cost difference between therapy alternatives in base cases. However, in the majority of scenarios in the sensitivity analyses, EMT was a more cost-effective option in acute HCV therapy. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 22: 278-288 (C) 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.