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Cost-effectiveness analysis of two therapeutic schemes in the treatment of acromegaly: a retrospective study of 168 cases

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to estimate the cost effectiveness of two therapeutic schemes, including preoperative medical therapy and surgery as primary therapy.

Methods

A total of 168 acromegaly cases were retrospectively investigated for a comparative evaluation of surgery and preoperative medical therapy. A Markov model was developed to simulate treatment cost-effectiveness and progression of acromegaly.

Results

Overall effectiveness of preoperative medical therapy was significantly higher than surgery in acromegalic patients with macroadenoma. In addition, life expectancy, and cost per life-year gained were slightly higher in the preoperative medical therapy group than in the initial surgery group when patients received surgery as a secondary treatment. Interestingly, preoperative medical therapy achieved a significant increase in life expectancy and reduced cost for patients who received long-term medical therapy as secondary treatment.

Conclusions

In acromegalic patients with macroadenoma, the cost-effectiveness analysis revealed more satisfactory outcomes in preoperative therapy, compared with primary surgery.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by National Key Program of Clinical Science (WBYZ2011).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Author notes

    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Key Laboratory of Endocrinology, Ministry of Health, Department of Endocrinology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 100730, Beijing, China

      L. Duan & F. Gu

    2. The Cardiology Department, Nanfang Hospital, 510515, Guangzhou, China

      M. Huang

    3. Orthopedic Department, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, 510630, Guangzhou, China

      H. Yan

    4. Department of National Health Accounts and Policy Studies, China National Health Development Research Center, 100191, Beijing, China

      Y. Zhang

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    1. L. Duan
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    2. M. Huang
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    3. H. Yan
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    4. Y. Zhang
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    5. F. Gu
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    Corresponding author

    Correspondence to F. Gu.

    Additional information

    L. Duan and M. Huang contributed equally to this work.

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    Duan, L., Huang, M., Yan, H. et al. Cost-effectiveness analysis of two therapeutic schemes in the treatment of acromegaly: a retrospective study of 168 cases. J Endocrinol Invest 38, 717–723 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-015-0242-6

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40618-015-0242-6

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