OBJECTIVES : Agents that inhibit sodium glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2), including canagliflozin and dapagliflozin, become available for the treatment of Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This analysis evaluated the cost-effectiveness of canagliflozin 100 mg versus sitagliptin 100 mg in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes on background metformin monotherapy.

METHODS : Economic outcomes were projected by using the validated Chinese Outcomes Model for T2DM (COMT). Efficacy and safety, medical expenditure, and utility data were derived from the literature, which were assigned to model variables for estimating the quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and costs as well as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). The analysis was conducted from the perspective of Chinese healthcare service providers. One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Health outcomes and costs were discounted at 5%.

RESULTS : Relative to sitagliptin strategy, treatment with canagliflozin 100 mg was associated with additional 0.022 expected life years per patients treated and 0.043 QALYs gained, which was driven by the reduced risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications over lifetime horizon. The saved cost of canagliflozin 100 mg versus sitagliptin was US $ 538, which yielded a dominant result. The one-way sensitivity analyses indicated that the result was robust by varying the model inputs, where canagliflozin 100 mg could be kept as a cost-effective option in comparison with sitagliptin.

CONCLUSIONS : These results suggested that canagliflozin is a cost-effective option compared with sitaglipin in Chinese patients with T2DM inadequately controlled with metformin.