Objectives: Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with long-term complications. Treating CHC with Pegylated interferon alpha-2a (PEG IFN alpha-2a) improves response rates and may contribute to less morbidity and mortality compared to standard interferon therapy. The objectives of this study were to estimate the long-term clinical consequences of such treatment as well as the resulting cost-effectiveness.
Research design and methods: A Markov model was developed in order to predict the clinical and economic outcomes over a 25 year period. Three analyses were conducted: 1. for all Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) genotypes where PEG IFN alpha-2a was compared to interferon alpha-2a (IFN alpha-2a) in monotherapy for 48 weeks; 2. for the HCV genotypes 1-4-5-6 comparing PEG IFN alpha-2a with interferon alpha-2b (IFN alpha-2b) both combined with ribavirin 1000/1200 mg for 48 weeks; and 3, where PEG IFN alpha-2a with 800 mg ribavirin was compared to IFN alpha-2b with ribavirin 1000/1200 mg for 24 weeks in genotypes 2 and 3.
Results: In analysis one the cost-effectiveness of PEG IFN alpha-2a is 4,569/quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained. In the second analysis, the result was 14,763 euros/QALY, while for the 24 weeks therapy (analysis 3) the result was 903 per QALY gained. In an extensive sensitivity analysis cost-effectiveness was confirmed within reasonable assumptions.
Conclusions: These results suggest that PEG IFN alpha-2a is cost-effective in the management of all CHC patients. Real life evidence about longer term benefits of PEG IFN alpha-2a will be of importance for future decision making.