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PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the persistency and treatment costs for latanoprost, bimatoprost, or beta-blockers in open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertensive patients. METHODS: This study was a retrospective, multicenter, parallel, active-controlled comparison of patients who were prescribed with ocular hypotensive monotherapy between September 1996 and August 2002. RESULTS: 1,182 patients were included. The Kaplan Meier life table analysis showed that latanoprost was continued longest among the groups for the first year of therapy (p = 0.02). A significant difference existed between groups in the final intraocular pressure for latanoprost(17.3 ± 3.9, N = 357), for bimatoprost (18.0 ± 3.6, N = 146), and for the beta-blockers (17.9 ± 3.7, N = 335) (p = < 0.0001). The average number of visits was statistically higher for beta-blockers (3.3), compared to latanoprost (2.9) and bimatoprost (3.1) (p = 0.01). Further, the mean number of medicine changes was greater for bimatoprost (0.45) and beta-blockers (0.47) than for latanoprost (0.27) (p = 0.0008). The cost of visits and medications was lowest for beta-blockers ($119.3 ± $78.9) and highest for bimatoprost ($163.8 ± $51.2) (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients were more persistent with latanoprost and demonstrated lower intraocular pressure, fewer visits, and fewer medicine changes when compared to bimatoprost or beta-blocker therapy. In contrast, the beta-blocker group provided lower overall cost.
Dr. W.C. Stewart, Pharmaceutical Research Network, LLC, 1639 Tatum Street, Charleston, SC 29412-2464, USA
11.4 Prostaglandins (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)