Cost-Effectiveness of Zoledronic Acid to Prevent and Treat Postmenopausal Osteoporosis in Comparison with Routine Medical Treatment
Introduction: Fractures caused by osteoporosis are prevalent among elderly females, which reduce quality of life significantly. This study aimed at comparing cost-effectiveness of Zoledronic acid in preventing and treating post-menopause osteoporosis as compared with routine medical treatment. Me...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Electronic Physician
2016-12-01
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Series: | Electronic Physician |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5279979/ |
Summary: | Introduction: Fractures caused by osteoporosis are prevalent among elderly females, which reduce quality of life
significantly. This study aimed at comparing cost-effectiveness of Zoledronic acid in preventing and treating
post-menopause osteoporosis as compared with routine medical treatment.
Methods: This cost-effectiveness study was carried out retrospectively from the Ministry of Health and insurance
organizations perspective. Costs were evaluated based on the cost estimation of a sample of patients. Outcomes
were obtained from a systematic review. The Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (CER) and incremental cost-effectiveness
ratio (ICER) for outcome of femoral neck Bone Mineral Density (BMD), hip trochanter BMD, total hip BMD
and lumbar spine BMD and cost-benefit of consuming Zoledronic Acid were calculated for fracture outcome
obtained from reviewing hospital records.
Results: The results and the ICER calculated for study outcomes indicated that one percent increase of BMD on
femoral neck BMD requires further cost of $386. One percent increase of BMD on hip trochanter BMD requires
further cost of $264. One percent increase of BMD on total hip BMD requires further cost of $388, one percent
increase of BMD on lumbar spine BMD requires further cost of $347. The Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA)
calculated for vertebral and hip fracture, non-vertebral fracture, any clinical fracture, and morphometric fracture
for a 36-month period were about 0.82, 0.57, and 1.06, respectively. Vertebral and hip fractures, and non- vertebral fractures or any clinical fracture for a 12-month period were calculated as 1.14 and 0.64, respectively. In
other words, Zoledronic acid consumption approach is a cheaper and better approach based on an economic
assessment, and it can be considered as a dominant approach.
Conclusion: According to the cost-effectiveness of zoledronic acid in the prevention and treatment of
osteoporosis in women, despite the costs, it is recommended that insurance coverage for the drug should be
considered in the period after menopause and the benefits of this drug. This can reduce the costs imposed on the
patients and also it can reduce the economic burden on the community, particularly as a result of the fracture. |
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ISSN: | 2008-5842 2008-5842 |