Comparative Costs Analysis of POAG Patients after SLT and Receiving Only Medical Treatment

Abstract

Selective laser trabeculoplasty is a widely spread method of primary open-angle glaucoma treatment. Confirmation of SLT treatment efficacy is associated with economic feasibility and is used for reducing costs for patients.The purpose of this study was comparative analysis of the cost value for patients with POAG, following SLT and having medical treatment without surgery, as well as determining the dynamics of the cost of treatment for patients at all its stages. An analysis of 250 medical charts of POAG patients, who underwent SLT (treatment group) and 50 medical charts of patients with POAG, who were treated conservatively (control group) was carried out, IOP before the surgery was from 20 to 30mm Hg. Selective laser trabeculoplasty was performed using Quantel Medical Optimis with Solutis device according to the standard technology. During the whole treatment course IOP every patient was examined 5 times: 1 day after SLT, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after the surgery (treatment group patients) and at primary visit, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year later (patients of the control group). Linear method and cluster analysis were used as mathematical methods; data processing was performed using software STATISTICA 10. The obtained results allow to compare the costs for patients received SLT and treated without surgery, as well as the dynamics of the patient costs at every stage of the treatment, that can be concerned for the further clinical and economical correction of the whole treatment course for POAG patients.

Keywords

• primary open-angle glaucoma
• selective laser trabeculoplasty
• costs
• hypotensive drugs
• glaucoma stages
• mathematical analysis