[Comparison of the cost of treatment of premature labor with atosiban or beta-sympathomimetics from the perspective of the health care payer--a pharmacoeconomic model].

This study compared overall cost associated with hospitalization of a premature delivery from the perspective of the medical care payer, i.e. the health insurance company. The authors applied a pharmaco-economic model evaluating hospitalization for the period of 48 h and subsequent therapy of possible untoward effects for the period of up to 72 h. In case of a shorter administration of atosiban (up to 18 h) the overall cost of hospitalization for premature delivery for the period of 48 h from the point of view of medical insurance company is basically comparable with the administration of beta-sympatomimetic drugs. If atosiban is administered for more than 18 h, the overall cost of hospitalization is higher than with beta-sympatomimetic drugs, and the cost increases in relation to the duration of atosiban administration.