A cost-effectiveness analysis of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in diabetic nephropathy.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers in patients with diabetic nephropathy. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed based on a meta-analysis of studies investigating the effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) as part of a treatment regimen on the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients with diabetic nephropathy. The primary outcome was the cost to prevent 1 patient from developing ESRD. Cost analysis was performed from a third-party payer perspective in 2006 US dollars. As part of a treatment regimen, ARBs significantly reduced the incidence of ESRD and doubling of serum creatinine concentration (P