Pharmacoutilization and Costs of Nucleoside and Nucleotide Analog Inhibitors for Hepatitis B Treatment in the Vesuvian Area of South Italy

Maurizio Capuozzo; Alessandro Ottaiano; Eduardo Nava; Stefania Cascone; Claudia Cinque; Adriano Vercellone; Rosario Vincenzo Iaffaioli

Abstract

International Journal of Pharmacology and Clinical Sciences,2013,2,2,55-57.

Published:June 2013

Type:Short Communication

Authors:

Author(s) affiliations:

Maurizio Capuozzo¹*, Alessandro Ottaiano², Eduardo Nava³, Stefania Cascone¹, Claudia Cinque⁴, Adriano Vercellone¹, Rosario Vincenzo Iaffaioli²

¹Department of Pharmacy at the Local Sanitary Agency (LSA) Naples 3 South, Herculaneum, Naples, Italy.

²Department of Colorectal Oncology at the National Cancer Institute, “G. Pascale” foundation, Naples, Italy.

³Department of Pharmacy at the LSA Naples 3 South, Nola, Naples, Italy.

⁴Pharmacist at the LSA Naples 1 Center, Naples, Italy.

Abstract:

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important sanitary problem due to its worldwide distribution and high social im-pact; severe complications of chronic hepatitis induced by HBV are cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We conducted a survey with the aim i) to show the updated prevalence of the disease and ii) to evaluate the economic impact of treatment with oral agents (nucleoside and nucleotide analog inhibitors) in a region of the South Italy com-prising 1.012.304 inhabitants. Between January and December 2012, 778 patients with hepatitis B (prevalence: 0.08%) were treated. The total pharmaceutical cost was € 2.082.926 (3% of the total sanitary expense). Oral drugs against HVB have a moderate impact on the pharmaceutical spending. The major economic impact associated with HBV infection is primarily represented by the later development of cirrhosis and HCC.

Keywords:Hepatitis B, Pharmaceutical spending, Pharmacoutilization, Prevalence