Budget impact of diacerein in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis

Abstract

Objectives: to know the costs and estimate the budget impact for the Brazilian Traumatology and Orthopedics Institute regarding the use of diacerein in drug treatment offered to outpatients with knee osteoarthritis. Method: steps for incremental budget impact analysis were developmented describing the baseline scenario and set of medicines has already used in the institution; describing the alternative scenario with insertion of diacerein and estimating the direct cost of this medicine for the fraction of eligible patients. The estimates will be converted into dollars and euros, using the exchange rate of December 29, 2017, according to the central bank. Public data were consulted from the governmental purchase register and the computerized system of the Institute. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were applied to check the impact of uncertainties and conjectures. Time horizon of five years was considered when comparing the scenarios. Analysis were made from the perspective of institution manegers. Results: a profile of the outpatients with osteoarthrits that receive treatment at Institute; the most prescribed medicines in this institute and its direct cost of acquisition. The budget impact for the Institute of diacerein as a adjuvant therapy were estimated. There was a increase of 6% in purchase institutional drug costs. Conclusions: the budget impact of diacerein in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee allows the managers of the institution to plan on resources and strategies for such treatment, as well as to develop therapeutic guidelines for this specific population.