Cost-effectiveness analysis of proton pump inhibitors compared to omeprazole in the healing of reflux oesophagitis

Summary

In 1998, the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Wales spent over £314 million on proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on the use of PPIs in dyspepsia advises that the least expensive appropriate PPI be used. Consequently, the objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of all PPIs for the healing of reflux oesophagitis over 8 weeks from the perspective of the UK's NHS.

A decision analysis model was developed using healing rates derived from a systematic review of all PPIs using omeprazole as a common comparator. The economic analysis indicates that esomeprazole is cost-effective compared with all other PPIs currently available for healing reflux oesophagitis.

Key words: :

• cost
• economic
• reflux oesophagitis
• proton pump inhibitors
• esomeprazole