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Health-related utility and cost-effectiveness of topical tacrolimus or corticosteroids for adult atopic dermatitis

The change in health-related utility and cost-effectiveness associated with the use of tacrolimus ointment 0.1% or topical moderate potency corticosteroids was determined in 926 adult patients with moderate-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Data were from a 6-month, double-blind, randomized controlled trial comparing b.i.d. treatment with tacrolimus ointment or corticosteroids. Heath-related utility was assessed using the EuroQoL 5D index (EQ-5D) and cost-effectiveness by the UK tariff for EQ-5D. Over 6 months, the marginal utility difference between study arms was 0.032 units in favor of tacrolimus (P < 0.001) and the incremental cost:utility ratio was £10,458/ quality-adjusted life year. Thus tacrolimus ointment is a highly cost-effective treatment in this setting (Poole, C.D. et al. 18th Cong ...