Use of drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol (DRSP/EE) among women with acne reduces acne treatment-related resources

AbstractBackground and objective:Acne is a common dermatologic condition that extends into middle age, particularly among women, and is associated with substantial healthcare resource utilization. Drospirenone (DRSP), a synthetic progestin, has anti-androgenic activity, and women using DRSP 3.0 mg/ethinyl estradiol (EE) 0.02 mg as a 24/4 regimen (DRSP/EE-24/4) for contraception also may use it for treatment of moderate acne. The study used a US national healthcare database to assess acne-related healthcare resource utilization among women aged 18–45 years before (pre-index) and after (post-index) initiation of DRSP/EE-24/4.Methods:Resource utilization and costs were evaluated by age group (18–25, 26–35, or 36–45 years) and by type of acne medication (systemic antibiotic, topical, or anti-androgen).Results:Data for 1340 women were evaluated. Overall, drug costs, medical costs, and total costs were decreased by 38%, 37%, and 37%, respectively (p < 0.0001 for all) between the pre-index and post-index periods...