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Willems LM, Hamer HM, Knake S, Rosenow F, Reese JP, Strzelczyk A. General Trends in Prices and Prescription Patterns of Anticonvulsants in Germany between 2000 and 2017: Analysis of National and Cohort-Based Data. APPLIED HEALTH ECONOMICS AND HEALTH POLICY 2019; 17:707-722. [PMID: 31161366 DOI: 10.1007/s40258-019-00487-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our aim was to explore trends in price evolution and prescription volumes of anticonvulsants (AEDs, antiepileptic drugs) in Germany between 2000 and 2017. METHOD This study used data from annual reports on mean prescription frequency and prices of defined daily doses (DDD) of AEDs in Germany to analyze nationwide trends. Interrupted time series (ITS) analysis was employed to test for significant effects of several statutory healthcare reforms in Germany on AED price evolution. These data were compared to cohort-based prescription patterns of four German cohort studies from 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2016 that included a total of 1368 patients with focal and generalized epilepsies. RESULTS Analysis of national prescription data between 2000 and 2017 showed that mean prices per DDD of third-generation AEDs decreased by 65% and mean prices of second-generation AEDs decreased by 36%, whereas mean prices of first-generation AEDs increased by 133%. Simultaneously, mean prescription frequency of third- generation AEDs increased by 2494%, while there was a substantial decrease in the use of first- (- 55%) and second- (- 16%) generation AEDs. ITS analysis revealed that in particular the introduction of mandatory rebates on drugs in 2003 affected prices of frequently used newer AEDs. These findings are consistent with data from cohort studies of epilepsy patients showing a general decrease of prices for frequently used AEDs in monotherapy by 62% and in combination therapies by 68%. The analysis suggests that overall expenses for AEDs remained stable despite an increase in the prescription of "newer" and "non-enzyme-inducing" AEDs for epilepsy patients. CONCLUSION Between 2000 and 2017, a distinct decline in AED prices can be observed that seems predominately caused by a governmentally obtained price decline of third- and second-generation drugs. These observations seem to be the result of a German statutory cost containment policy applied across all health-care sectors. The increasing use of third-generation AEDs to the disadvantage of "old" and "enzyme-inducing" AEDs reflects the preferences of physicians and patients with epilepsy and follows national treatment guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent M Willems
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology, Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Hajo M Hamer
- Epilepsy Center Erlangen and Department of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Susanne Knake
- LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg (Lahn), Germany
| | - Felix Rosenow
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology, Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg (Lahn), Germany
| | - Jens-Peter Reese
- LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg (Lahn), Germany
| | - Adam Strzelczyk
- Epilepsy Center Frankfurt Rhine-Main and Department of Neurology, Center of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Schleusenweg 2-16 (Haus 95), 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- LOEWE Center for Personalized Translational Epilepsy Research (CePTER), Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Epilepsy Center Hessen and Department of Neurology, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg (Lahn), Germany.
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Strzelczyk A, Steinig I, Klein KM, Willems LM, Knake S, Rosenow F, Bauer S. Brivaracetam zur Zusatztherapie bei fokalen Epilepsien. DER NERVENARZT 2016; 87:1086-1093. [DOI: 10.1007/s00115-016-0163-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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