We included 940 patients admitted to a smoking cessation program. Smokers had access to medical consultations and prescription of nicotine replacement therapies (NRT — patch and gum), bupropion, and varenicline. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were estimated in the perspective of the Brazilian Public Health System (SUS).
We were able to show that the best cost-effectiveness for one participant to quit smoking was BRL R$ 1.546,40 with varenicline plus bupropion BRL R$ 1.650,00 with varenicline alone; BRL R$ 1.971,32 with bupropion plus gum; BRL R$ 2.413,81 with bupropion plus NRT; and BRL R$ 2.414,26 with NRT alone.
Treatment with varenicline showed to be dominant and cost saving compared to NRT and/or bupropion.