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ERIC J. KRUEP, PHARM.D., M.S., is Consultant, Applied Health Outcomes, Palm Harbor, FL; at the time of this study he was Clinical Staff Pharmacist, Methodist Hospital Pharmacy, Clarian Health Partners, Inc., Indianapolis, IN. LORNE E. BASSKIN, PHARM.D., is Clinical Coordinator, North Shore Medical Center, Miami, FL.

Address correspondence to Dr. Kruep at Applied Health Outcomes, 4114 Woodlands Parkway, Palm Harbor, FL 34685 (ekruep{at}yahoo.com; ekruep{at}applied-outcomes.com).

Purpose. The cost of darbepoetin alfa versus that of epoetin alfa in a hospital setting was studied. Methods. The study was an observational, retrospective review of the hospitalwide use of darbepoetin and epoetin during hospital admissions beginning in the period from January 2003 through April 2003. After the identification from daily charge reports of patients who used at least one of the study drugs during an admission, charts were requested for review. Drug product costs were determined from hospital purchasing information. Material and labor costs were combined to estimate drug administration costs. Total costs were calculated as the sum of drug product costs and administration costs. Results. A total of 429 epoetin records and 80 darbepoetin records were included. The two cohorts were similar with respect to demographic characteristics. With respect to costs, the only significant difference between cohorts was in daily administration costs, which were lower for patients receiving darbepoetin. Sensitivity analysis found lower costs for darbepoetin only after the dose-conversion ratio (DCR) was increased to above 256.74 units:1 µg. The overall DCR based on the median daily dose of each drug was 244.90 units:1 µg. Conclusion. A cost-minimization study in a hospital showed no cost difference between treatment with epoetin and darbepoetin. Index terms: Anemia; Costs; Darbepoetin alfa; Drug comparisons; Economics; Epoetin alfa; Hematopoietic agents; Hospitals

 

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