Key result
Carbamazepine was the most cost-effective first-line monotherapy for autistic children with newly diagnosed focal seizures across all four countries, while optimal adjunctive therapies varied by country.
Why the study?
What is the most cost-effective anti-epileptic medication strategy for autistic children with focal seizures?
What is the most cost-effective anti-epileptic medication strategy for autistic children with focal seizures?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Carbamazepine is the most cost-effective initial monotherapy for autistic children with focal seizures, though the economic burden on families far exceeds healthcare provider costs.
We examine the cost-effectiveness of treating epilepsy with anti-epileptic medicines in autistic children, looking at impacts on healthcare providers (in England, Ireland, Italy and Spain) and children's families (in Ireland). We find carbamazepine to be the most cost-effective drug to try first in children with newly diagnosed focal seizures. For England and Spain, oxcarbazepine is the most cost-effective treatment when taken as additional treatment for those children whose response to monotherapy is suboptimal. In Ireland and Italy, gabapentin is the most cost-effective option. Our additional scenario analysis presents the aggregate cost to families with autistic children who are being treated for epilepsy: this cost is considerably higher than healthcare provider expenditure.
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Tinelli et al. (2023) studied Autism with co-occurring epilepsy (focal seizures). Anti-epileptic drugs (e.g., carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, gabapentin) vs. Alternative anti-epileptic drugs or continued monotherapy was evaluated on Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and total costs per QALY gained. Carbamazepine was the most cost-effective first-line monotherapy for autistic children with newly diagnosed focal seizures across all four countries, while optimal adjunctive therapies varied by country.
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