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Prevention of recurrences of erosive reflux esophagitis: a cost-effectiveness analysis of maintenance proton pump inhibition

Harris RA, Kuppermann M, Richter JE

The American journal of medicine, 1997

53 citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the cost-effectiveness of three management strategies for healed erosive reflux esophagitis: maintenance therapy with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) from the outset; no maintenance therapy unless a patient's symptoms recur once over a year; and no maintenance therapy unless a patient's symptoms recur twice over a year.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Decision analysis using data from randomized trials of lansoprazole, case series, and expert opinion.

RESULTS: For patients with grade 4 esophagitis, maintenance from the outset is the most efficient approach. For all other patients, providing maintenance PPI after a patient experiences two recurrences is the least costly but least effective approach. The other two approaches prevent more recurrences: waiting to initiate maintenance therapy until symptoms recur once requires an additional $73 for each recurrence prevented whereas maintenance PPI from the outset requires an additional $819 for each recurrence prevented. Maintenance therapy from the outset is cost effective if symptoms of esophagitis cause a 22% or greater decrement in quality of life (using $50,000 per quality-adjusted life year gained as a cost-effectiveness definition). However, withholding maintenance until the time of a first recurrence is cost effective if symptoms cause a 2% or greater decrement in quality of life.

CONCLUSION: For grades 2 and 3 esophagitis, providing maintenance therapy after a patient experiences a further recurrence is a…

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