Cost-utility of ambrisentan and bosentan for pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Despite the increasing evidence supporting the efficacy of ambrisentan and bosentan in improving functional classes among pediatric patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), there is a lack of information regarding their cost implications. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the cost-utility of bosentan compared to ambrisentan for the treatment of pediatric patients with PAH in Colombia. Methods We employed a Markov model to estimate the costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) associated with the use of ambrisentan or bosentan in pediatric patients diagnosed with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). To ensure the reliability of our findings, we conducted sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of the model. In our cost-effectiveness analysis, we evaluated the outcomes at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of US$5,180. Results The expected annual cost per patient receiving ambrisentan was estimated to be $16,055 (95% CI 15,937 –16,172), while for bosentan it was $14,503 (95% CI 14,489 –14,615). The QALYs per person estimated for ambrisentan were 0.39 (95% CI 0.381–0.382), whereas for bosentan it was 0.40 (95% CI 0.401–0.403). Conclusion Our economic evaluation shows that ambrisentan is not cost-effective regarding bosentan to in treating pulmonary arterial hypertension in C.