Cost effectiveness of secondary vs tertiary prevention for post-menopausal osteoporosis.

BACKGROUND

The aging of the population is likely to increase the number of osteoporosis-related fractures, such as hip fractures, and hence the economic burden for society. Therefore, strategies to identify women at increased risk are of major interest.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the cost effectiveness of preventive services for osteoporosis, comparing secondary plus tertiary prevention (SP/TP) versus tertiary prevention (TP) alone in post-menopausal women in Germany.

METHODS

A cost-utility analysis and a budget-impact analysis were performed from the perspective of the German statutory health insurance (SHI). A Markov model simulated costs and benefits discounted at 3% over a lifetime horizon.

RESULTS

Cost effectiveness of TP compared with no screening was 669 Euros, 477 Euros and 385 Euros per QALY for women aged 60, 70 and 80 years, respectively (year 2010 values). In women aged 50 years, TP dominated no prevention. Cost effectiveness of SP/TP compared with TP was 4543 Euros, 19791 Euros, 8670 Euros and 3368 Euros for women aged 50, 60, 70 and 80 years, respectively. SP/TP resulted in additional costs of 109 million Euros or 0.10% of the SHI's annual budget (TP alone = 8 million Euros).

CONCLUSION

Compared with TP, a strategy based on SP/TP appears to be more expensive but more effective in each age group. Given that cost effectiveness seems acceptable, allocation of resources to SP/TP to decrease post-menopausal osteoporotic fracture risk may be justified.