The SHARP CRC Health Economics Study. Simulation of the preventable costs of oral corticosteroids in severe asthmatics in eleven European countries

<bold>Background:</bold> Severe asthmatics (SA) consume roughly 50% of the global asthma healthcare resources due to unscheduled visits, hospitalizations, therapy, and management of oral corticosteroid (OCS) adverse events (AEs). Biologics offer a route away from continuous OCS treatment. Guidelines discourage OCS usage, particularly if continuous and at high doses, due to increased risk of AEs. This study simulates the economic burden of OCS-related reversible AEs (hypertension, psychiatric conditions, sleep disorders, dyspepsia) in SA patients in 11 European countries over 10 years. <bold>Methods:</bold> From each National Health System perspective, a budget impact model simulated total AE costs in SA patients in many OCS-sparing scenarios. AE costs due to exclusive OCS use were compared to AE costs when a percentage of the patients annually stops OCS, and the rate of OCS-related AEs decreases. Epidemiological data, OCS related-AE prevalences, and costs were collected from the literature (biologic therapy not considered). <bold>Results:</bold> Figure shows the potential savings over 10 years among SA patients; AEs costs were calculated under three scenarios of change in health-status (onset or amelioration of AE) namely after 1/2/3 years. E.g: reducing OCS use by 75 % would spare 5.3 to 782 million € over 10 years. <fig><object-id>erj;64/suppl_68/PA1176/F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><object-id>F1</object-id><graphic></graphic></fig> <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Stopping OCS can lead to consistent AE savings in SA patients over the long-term.