Table 2.

Main study characteristics of long-acting beta₂ agonist (LABA) cost-effectiveness assessments

First author, year (country)	Type of study	Time horizon	Funding	Drug therapy described	Difference in total costs (year of valuation)	Difference in outcomes	ICER	Authors’ conclusion	QHES score
Price et al. 2013 (UK) [21]	Markov model (CUA)	3 year (SA: 5 year)	Novartis	1. Indacaterol (150 and 300 µg) 2. Tiotropium 3. Salmeterol	150 µg 1 vs. 2: –£248 (–€286) 1 vs. 3: –£110 (–€127) 300 µg 1 vs. 2: –£259 (–€299) (2011)	150 µg 1 vs. 2: +0.008 QALYs 1 vs. 3: +0.008 QALYs 300 µg 1 vs. 2: +0.011 QALYs	150 µg vs. 2/3: Dominant 300 µg vs. 2: Dominant	Indacaterol dominates	100
Price et al. 2011 (Germany) [20]	Markov model (CUA)	3 year	Novartis	1. Indacaterol (150 and 300 µg) 2. Tiotropium 3. Salmeterol	150 µg 1 vs. 2: –€348 1 vs. 3: –€136 (2010)	150 µg 1 vs. 2: +0.008 QALYs, +0.01 LYs 1 vs. 3: +0.009 QALYs, +0.01 LYs	150 µg vs. 2/3: Dominant 300 µg vs. 2: €28,301/QALY	Indacaterol 150 µg dominates; Indacaterol 300 µg is cost effective	89.5

CUA cost-utility analysis, ICER incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, LYs life-years, QALYs quality-adjusted life-years, SA sensitivity analysis