The cost reduction in hospitalization associated with paliperidone palmitate in the People’s Republic of China, Korea, and Malaysia

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia results in substantial health care utilization costs. Much of these costs can be attributed to health care use resulting from nonadherence to treatment, relapse, and hospitalization. AIMS OF THE STUDY: The objective of this research is to further estimate the health care resource utilization costs of patients with schizophrenia in the People’s Republic of China, Korea, and Malaysia with a specific focus on the reduction in hospitalization costs associated with the use of long-acting, injectable paliperidone palmitate (PP) relative to alternative treatment medications. METHODS: The study focuses exclusively on the estimated reduction in hospitalization days following treatment with PP and the potential associated cost savings. Cost analysis was done using a payer’s perspective and only includes direct health care costs associated with hospitalization. Localized cost data were taken from published sources, and health care utilization was estimated based on a clinical study conducted in countries in the Asia-Pacific region. People’s Republic of China, Korea, and Malaysia had the highest number of patients enrolled in the clinical study, and thus were chosen for this research. Analysis looked at 12-month and 18-month periods following initial treatment with PP relative to a retrospective 12-month period utilizing alternative treatment medications. RESULTS: Results suggest that reductions in hospital utilization cost over 12 months may occur through the use of PP relative to alternatives–ranging from $1,991 for the People’s Republic of China to $6,698 for Korea and $6,716 for Malaysia. CONCLUSION: Given the substantial costs associated with the treatment of schizophrenia both worldwide and in Asia, it is important to fully understand the costs and outcomes associated with various treatment options. In this research, we have specifically analyzed the direct health care cost savings associated with hospital utilization for patients taking PP relative to alternative treatment methods. The results suggest that reductions in hospital utilization cost were associated with PP treatment, likely largely due to increased adherence to treatment.