Price-Performance Ratio Analysis Of Enteral Vitamin K Formulations.

Background: Vitamin K compounded oral solution costs significantly less on a per-milligram basis compared with tablet formulations. Current literature has shown that international normalized ratio (INR) lowering in the reversal of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) occurs to a similar degree when using vitamin K oral solution compared with tablet formulations.

Objective: To compare drug spending on vitamin K oral solution versus tablet using a price-performance ratio (PPR).

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted at a tertiary care academic medical center to compare INR reversal of VKA-induced coagulopathy on a price basis for vitamin K oral solution versus tablet. The price of the oral solution accounted for supplies and labor. A PPR was calculated based upon the following formula: vitamin K formulation cost divided by the hourly percent change in INR following vitamin K administration.

Results: The PPR for vitamin K tablets was 27.0 compared with 5.8 for the oral solution ( = 0.006).

Conclusions: Utilization of vitamin K solution resulted in a significantly reduced cost per INR-lowering effect relative to commercially available tablets. Utilization of a compounded vitamin K solution represents an enticing means of cost-savings in the hospital setting.