RESUMO
The primary objective of this study was to investigate the economic impact of treatment of acute ischaemic stroke with piracetam vs placebo according to the societal perspective in France. Socio-demographic, clinical and resource utilisation data for piracetam and placebo patients during the acute phase following stroke was obtained from the Piracetam Acute Stroke Study (PASS) clinical trial database. The economic analysis was based on the population defined as being treated within 6 h 59 min following stroke and presenting an initial Orgogozo score of less than 55. Resource utilisation data concerning the rehabilitation phase, outpatient follow-up and institutionalisation was obtained from decision tree analysis. There was a higher percentage of autonomous patients in the piracetam group (27.8%) compared to placebo (22.9%). The mean duration of hospitalisation (autonomous 21.8 days; non-autonomous 30.3 days) and the cost of an autonomous patient was lower than a non-autonomous patient. The total cost per stroke patient receiving piracetam was estimated at 103 KF during the 6-month period, compared to 106 KF per placebo patient. The major cost driver was hospitalisation during the acute phase, representing approximately 50% of the total cost per patient. In patients with moderate to severe stroke treated within 6.59 h, piracetam was cost-effective compared to placebo over the 6-month study period.
