Medical rehabilitation, one of the main components in the care of patients after stroke, is currently not specified in Kazakhstan, even though neurological disorders are a frequent and potentially disabling consequence of a stroke. The study aimed to evaluate the clinical and economic effectiveness of using Cerebrolysin in patients with post-stroke complications in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

An annual cost per patient Markov model was developed to compare the use of Cerebrolysin with placebo in the medical rehabilitation of adult patients after acute ischemic stroke. Outcomes and costs were assessed at day 90. Secondary analysis was performed at the end of one year. The primary criterion for effectiveness was change in Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) scale – Hand Function Assessment Test scores. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was used as a secondary measure of effectiveness.

The results of the cost-effectiveness analysis showed a pharmacoeconomic advantage in using Cerebrolysin, in comparison with placebo, in the early rehabilitation of patients after stroke. Cerebrolysin resulted in a better ratio of the main cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) parameters and a negative incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), regardless of which effectiveness criterion was used. For the ARAT scale, the CER was USD63.33 versus USD148.07 and the ICER was -USD27.71; for the mRS, the CER was USD45.95 versus USD158.54 and the ICER was -USD14.93. The annual budget impact per patient of funding Cerebrolysin is expected to be an increase in the cost of purchasing the drug (an additional USD343.85) and an overall cost saving in the Cerebrolysin group due to accelerated patient rehabilitation (USD1,944.30 versus USD2,354.37).

New evidence has emerged on the effectiveness and safety of Cerebrolysin in patients after stroke, which has served as the basis for including this drug in many international clinical recommendations. The pharmacoeconomic advantages of Cerebrolysin make it possible to recommend its use in the medical rehabilitation of patients after stroke in Kazakhstan.