Cost-effectiveness analysis of treatment with varenicline for nicotine dependence compared with smoking cessation without pharmacotherapy in the real world

PURPOSE: Smoking is an important public health issue. Although measures to support smoking cessation have been implemented worldwide, smokers often fail to quit smoking after receiving pharmacotherapies for nicotine dependence. The present study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of varenicline for smoking cessation compared with no pharmacotherapy using actual paid medical cost data in Japan.

METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of 3657 subjects who had quit smoking with varenicline or no pharmacotherapy. We extracted health examination and medical claim data from a health insurer database for the period 2012 to 2015. We calculated the incremental cost-effective ratio (ICER) of varenicline using actual paid medical costs for nicotine dependence and the number needed to treat to maintain smoking cessation compared with no pharmacotherapy, considering sex, age, income, and occupation.

RESULTS: The one- and two-year smoking cessation maintenance rates were 69.7% and 62.4%, respectively. We found that 8.8% of subjects who quit smoking used varenicline for nicotine dependence and the cost per person was Japanese Yen (JPY) 52,177 (US dollars [USD] 474; USD 1=JPY 110). The ICER of varenicline was dominant when comparing two-year cessation with one-year cessation. Male, age <40 years, low income, and manufacturing workers were the most cost-effective variables.

CONCLUSIONS: The cost-effective variables of varenicline in the real world were investigated. The results of this study strengthen the evidence regarding which type of people should be targeted for measures to support smoking cessation using varenicline. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.