Browsing by Subject "TNF-salpaajat"

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory rheumatoid disease, that is typically diagnosed in young adults. The symptoms include inflammatory back pain, rigidity in the lumbar and thoracic spines, and peripheral inflammations. The incidence of ankylosing spondylitis among northern European population ranges from 0.2 to 0.5%. The mortality rate of people with ankylosing spondylitis is about 50% higher than in the average population. First-line treatment for ankylosing spondylitis includes physiotherapy and NSAIDs. TNF inhibitors are used for patients whose symptoms cannot be controlled with first-line treatment. In Finland, there are five TNF inhibitors indicated for ankylosing spondylitis on the market: infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, golimumab, and sertolizumab pegol. In 2015, the average medication cost for a patient entitled to reimbursement for TNF inhibitors in Finland was over 12 000 €. The cost-effectiveness of TNF inhibitors in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis compared to conventional care has been extensively studied, but there is less data on the differences between TNF inhibitors. In this thesis, previously published literature on the cost-effectiveness of TNF inhibitors in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis was reviewed, and a patient-specific simulation model based on data from the National Register for Biologic Treatment in Finland was conducted. The aim of the simulation was to compare the cost-effectiveness of TNF inhibitors (infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab and golimumab) in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis as the patient's first biological treatment compared to other TNF inhibitors. The simulation was conducted on a lifetime time horizon and incorporated direct health care and medication costs in 2015 euros. As conclusions of the model, all other TNF inhibitors were found dominant over etanercept. The greatest effectiveness was achieved with golimumab, while the costs were lowest with infliximab. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of golimumab compared to infliximab was 63 840 €/QALY. In sensitivity analyzes, the model was found to be very sensitive to TNF inhitors' prices. In addition, sensitivity was also observed for the discount rate and time horizon used.