Table 2

Six month cost (€) and effects of withdrawal of fluticasone propionate (FP) 500 μg twice daily versus placebo in outpatients with COPD using 2002 cost prices

	FP strategy	Placebo strategy	Difference
*Includes €6 pharmacy cost/prescription.
†Includes salary cost of pulmonary physician and lung function assistant, as well as cost for courses of oral steroids and antibiotics including €6 pharmacy cost/prescription.
‡Mean of 10.5 hospital days.
Cost per patient
FP 500 μg twice daily*	238	26	212
Exacerbation cost†	59	93	−34
Hospital admission‡	214	337	−123
Total direct medical cost	511	456	55
Effect per patient
No of exacerbations	0.87	1.37	−0.50
No of hospital admissions	0.073	0.116	−0.043