Pharmacoeconomic aspects of osteoporosis problem: analysis of patients willing to pay for the treatment

Objective. To study willingness of pts to pay for osteoporosis (OP) treatment by themselves and analysis of factors influencing this decision. Material and methods. 342 pts (317 female, 25 male, mean age 61,4±8,9 years) required a special consultation for osteoporosis were asked to fill a questionnaire. All answered questions concerning social, demographic, medical data, assessment of pt knowledge about OP, quality of life assessment with QALY score. To assess pts willingness to pay for OP treatment they were asked to determine sum of money they were ready to pay for an appropriate drug decreasing fracture risk in two times. The pt was to consider 4 scenarios: low, small, moderate and high fracture risk during subsequent life. Results. 86% of pts were ready to pay for OP treatment. The main factors associated with absence of such willingness were older age (OR=1,06, 95% confidence interval 1,о2-1,1), invalidity (OR=3,18, 95% confidence interval 1,54-6,60), loneliness (OR=2,4(), 95% confidence interval 1,27-4,50). These pts were also worse informed about the disease. But family income did not influence the decision to pay. Number of pts ready to pay for the treatment and sum which they were ready to pay directly depended on the probability of fracture (rank test r=0,99 and r=0,28 respectively). The most powerful factor determining the sum pt was ready to pay for the treatment was family income. Next on importance were presence of the work and families consisted of 3 or more members. Personal experience of the pt in treatment with such drugs also had some significance. So pts treated with miacalcic were ready to pay significantly larger sums than other pts with equivalent incomes. Conclusion. Pts willingness to pay for OP treatment depends firstly on social factors and his knowledge about OP. The main factor determining the sum the pt is ready to pay is family income. On the whole sums the pts are ready to pay are significantly less than market price of drugs with proved efficacy. Fracture risk value determined by bone densitometry is an important factor influencing decision to pay for OP treatment.

osteoporosis, treatment, pharrnacoeconomic aspects

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