Cost-efficacy and pharmacoeconomics of scalp lesions of psoriatic patients in current Japanese health-care insurance system

摘要

Psoriatic scalp lesion is occasionally recalcitrant to topical or systemic treatments including biologic agents. The combined active vitamin D-3/corticosteroids are more expensive despite their marked efficacy. The aim of the present study is to evaluate total costs as well as costs versus efficacy of topical scalp psoriasis treatments under the current Japanese health-care insurance system. A prospective study was performed from the database of an outpatient clinic. The medical costs of scalp psoriasis patients were evaluated in a prospective manner in each case over a total 12-month duration from July 2017 until August 2019. The total cost of the combined active vitamin D-3/corticosteroid gel (combined gel) was higher ( yen 79 350) than that of topical corticosteroid lotion ( yen 22 970). The cost versus efficacy of the combined gel was lower ( yen 2026/cost for the reduction of 1 Psoriasis Scalp Severity Index [1PSSI] score) than that of topical corticosteroid lotion ( yen 2316/1PSSI). The reduction of PSSI score was observed by changing from topical corticosteroid lotion to topical combined gel. The combined gel showed the best cost efficacy in terms of medical economic burden in the current Japanese insurance system.