Cost-effectiveness analysis of onabotulinumtoxinA in the preventive treatment of chronic migraine under the Brazilian private health care system perspective

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of onabotulinumtoxinA (OT) versus “no treatment” (NT) of chronic refractory migraine to at least two drugs in the Supplementary Brazilian Health Care System. Methods: An analytical decision model simulated outcomes and costs at 24 weeks. Clinical outcomes were: days with headache (DH); days with moderate/severe headache (DMSH); headache episodes (HE); days with migraine (DM) and episodes of migraine (EM). For the NT arm, the baseline values of placebo were used. For the OT arm, baseline values were used as reductions related to treatment use. Costs included were direct medical costs. The data that supported the analyzes were extracted from the literature. One OT application (155U) was evaluated every 12 weeks totaling 2 applications in 24 weeks. Costs were extracted from Brazilian official databases. A 3.8% discontinuation rate was considered for OT at week 24. Probabilistic (PSA) and univariate (USA) sensitivity analyzes were performed for the DM outcome. Results: The use of OT provided a reduction of 52.42% in DH; 47.97% in DMSH; 37.60% in HE; 50.49% in DM; 35.68% in EM and a reduction of R$ 1,193 with medical visits and hospitalization. There was an increase of R$ 8,646 with OT application; resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of R$ 142.16/DH; R$ 155.35/DMSH; R$ 198.22/HE; R$ 147.61/ DM and R$ 208.85/EM. PSA and USA proved the base case results. Conclusion: Use of OT provides a reduction in clinical outcomes ranging from 44% to 49%, as well as a reduction of 54% to 60% in costs with medical visits and hospitalization.