Systematic review of economic evaluations of Alzheimer’s disease medications

Abstract

This systematic review was conducted to summarize published pharmacoeconomic studies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) medications. Pharmacoeconomic studies were included in the review if they were published in English and contained a full and complete report of an original economic evaluation. The studies also had to be comparative in nature (i.e., cost–benefit, cost–effectiveness, cost–utility or cost–minimization analyses). Existing AD medications were found to dominate standard treatment (i.e., no drugs), or they were found to be more costly and more effective than standard treatment. Estimates of cost and effect varied widely because of different underlying models, assumptions and data sources. More research is needed to draw firmer conclusions regarding the overall cost-effectiveness of AD medications.

Keywords::

• Alzheimer’s disease
• cost-effectiveness
• medication
• pharmacoeconomics
• systematic review

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Mark Oremus is the Bernie O’Brien Fellow, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University. He is supported by an Ontario Ministry of Health Career Scientist Award.

The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.