Abstract

Objective: To estimate the incremental cost-utility of etanercept and infliximab compared with usual care in active ankylosing spondylitis.

Methods: A Markov model over five years with cycle times of three months was computed. Patients included all had active disease, defined as Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI) ⩾4 and could reach low disease activity, defined as BASDAI <4. Non-response to tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) inhibitors was always followed by cessation of treatment. Response to TNFα inhibitors could be followed at any time by either relapse to BASDAI ⩾4, leading to cessation of treatment, or toxicity, leading to cessation of treatment if major. Probabilities for efficacy, relapse, and toxicity were derived from two European randomised controlled trials. Utilities and costs assigned to the BASDAI disease states were derived from a two year observational Dutch cohort. In sensitivity analyses probabilities of effectiveness, toxicity, costs, and utilities were varied.

Results: Over five years the total quality adjusted life years varied from 2.57 to 2.89 for usual care, compared with 3.13 to 3.42 and 3.07 to 3.35 for etanercept or infliximab. Cumulative costs were between €49 555 to 69 982 for usual care compared with €59 574 to 91 183 or €28 3330 to 106 775 for etanercept and infliximab. This resulted in incremental cost-utility ratios varying between €42 914 and 123 761 per QALY for etanercept compared with usual care and €67 207 to 237 010 for infliximab. The model was sensitive to drug prices.

Conclusion: Etanercept and infliximab have large clinical effects in ankylosing spondylitis. The present model suggests the high drug costs restricts efficient use in all patients who have a BASDAI >4. The validity of the model is limited by insufficient insight in the natural course of the disease and long term effectiveness and toxicity of TNFα inhibitors.