Pharmacoeconomic Analysis of Inhalation Drugs Availability Used in COPD Treatment

Abstract

Relevance of the study and the presence of gaps in existing knowledge on topic. The use of inhalation bronchodilators and glucocorticosteroids (GCS) improves the functional parameters of the lungs in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as reduces the number of middle and severe exacerbations. There are a large number of inhalation drugs in the modern Russian pharmaceutical market, which are both monocomponent and combinations of two and three drugs. Often, original and generic drugs have different costs and are not always economically or physically available to different population segments. Thus, the aim of this study was to conduct a comparative pharmacoeconomic analysis of inhalation bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs to determine the level of economic availability. Materials and Methods. Drugs from the group of adrenomimetics for inhalational use (ATC code R03A), anticholinolytic and GCS for inhalation used in the COPD treatment (ATC code R03B) were analyzed. Information about the price of drugs is obtained from the state register of maximum selling prices and the Internet resource "Apteka.ru". To evaluate the availability of the analyzed groups of drugs, solvency adequacy coefficients (Ca.s) and price liquidity indicators (Cliq) were calculated. Results . The most available among the GCS was beclomethasone in form of a metered-dose inhalator (MDI) 50 mcg (Cliq = 52%; Ca.s = 0.338%), among short-acting emergency bronchodilators, salbutamol in MDI form 100 mcg (Cliq= 58%; Ca.s = 0.156%) was the most available. Greater availability was found for domestic drug manufacturers (95% CI: 0.690 - 1,000; p = 0.007), however, the opposite data were obtained for several drugs. Conclusions . The obtained results show a heterogeneous structure among the levels of inhalation drugs availability used in COPD treatment. Taking into account the wide range of drug products, in order to inform medical and pharmaceutical workers in a timely way, it is advisable to systematically study these drug groups using pharmacoeconomic analysis methods.