OBJECTIVES: This study compares one-year direct health care costs of uncontrolled schizophrenia patients initiated on olanzapine versus risperidone. METHODS: The integrated medical and pharmacy claims of a large, geographically diverse, commercially insured population were used to conduct this analysis. Patients with uncontrolled schizophrenia who initiated treatment with either olanzapine or risperidone were included. Treatment course and associated health care costs during the subsequent 12-month period were examined using univariate and multivariate methods. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty-one patients initiated on risperidone and 142 initiated on olanzapine met inclusion criteria. The mean dose was 4.34 and 11 for risperidone and olanzapine, respectively. During the one-year period after initiation of drug of interest, olanzapine patients were less likely to be hospitalized and had shorter mean length of hospital stays. Although pharmaceutical costs were significantly higher, medical costs were significantly lower for patients on olanzapine compared to those on risperidone. Univariate and multivariate analyses (controlling for potential confounding factors such as demographics, disease severity and comorbidities) consistently demonstrated that olanzapine patients had significantly lower schizophrenia-related costs ($2,839 less, p<0.011), lower mental health care costs ($3,744 less, p<0.004) and lower total health care costs ($4,674 less, p<0.001) than those patients initiated on risperidone. CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed significant differences between olanzapine and risperidone in the treatment of uncontrolled schizophrenics in clinical practice. Olanzapine patients incurred lower costs (lower schizophrenia-related, mental healthcare and total healthcare costs). The lower costs were inpatient driven by fewer hospitalizations and shorter length of hospital stays in the olanzapine treatment group.
Learning Objectives: To provide the participants with some understanding of the difference between two newer antipsychotics in the treatment of uncontrolled schizophrenia
Keywords: Economic Analysis, Outcomes Research
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Eli Lilly
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.