Authors' recommendations: There was insufficient evidence to determine if triple therapy is clinically superior to dual bronchodilator therapy or combination (LABA plus ICS) therapy. More studies comparing these therapies are needed. The use of triple therapy decreases the number of COPD hospitalizations, improves lung function, and improves the quality of life of patients with moderate-to-severe COPD, compared with tiotropium alone.In the base-case primary economic analysis, the incremental cost-utility ratio of triple therapy (tiotropium plus LABA plus ICS) compared with monotherapy (tiotropium) was estimated to be $111,458 per quality-adjusted life-year. The cost per QALY of triple therapy varied, however, depending on the source of efficacy data and the assumed cost of the LABA plus ICS. Using the base-case analysis, triple therapy would be cost-effective if societies’ willingness to pay for a QALY is greater than $111,458. Otherwise monotherapy would be the cost-effective treatment.

Project Status: Completed

URL for project: http://www.cadth.ca/media/pdf/H0488_Triple_Therapy_for_Pulmonary_Disease_tr_e.pdf

Year Published: 2010

URL for published report: http://www.cadth.ca/index.php/en/hta/reports-publications/search/publication/1690

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Canada

Organisation Name: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health

Contact Address: 600-865 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1S 5S8 Canada. Tel: +1 613 226 2553; Fax: +1 613 226 5392;

Contact Name: requests@cadth.ca

Contact Email: requests@cadth.ca

Copyright: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH)