The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of screening for anal squamous intraepithelial lesions in homosexual and bisexual HIV-positive men.

CONTEXT: Homosexual and bisexual men infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at increased risk for human papillomavirus-related anal neoplasia and anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). OBJECTIVE: To estimate the clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness of screening HIV-positive homosexual and bisexual men foranal squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASIL) and anal SCC. DESIGN: Cost-effectiveness analysis performed from a societal perspective that used reference case recommendations from the Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine. A state-transition Markov model was developed to calculate lifetime costs, life expectancy, and quality-adjusted life expectancy for no screening vs several screening strategies for ASIL and anal SCC using anal Papanicolaou (Pap) testing at different intervals. Values for incidence, progression, and regression of anal neoplasia; efficacy of screening and treatment; natural history of HIV; health-related quality of life; and costs were obtained from the literature. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Hypothetical cohort of homosexual and bisexual HIV-positive men living in the United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Life expectancy, quality-adjusted life expectancy, quality-adjusted years of life saved, lifetime costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. RESULTS: Screening for ASIL increased quality-adjusted life expectancy at all stages of HIV disease. Screening with anal Pap tests every 2 years, beginning in early HIV disease (CD4 cell count >0.50 x 10(9)/L), resulted in a 2.7-month gain in quality-adjusted life expectancy for an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $13,000 per quality-adjusted life year saved. Screening with anal Pap tests yearly provided additional benefit at an incremental cost of $16,600 per quality-adjusted life year saved. If screening was not initiated until later in the course of HIV disease (CD4 cell count <0.50 x 10(9)/L), then yearly Pap test screening was preferred due to the greater amount of prevalent anal disease (cost-effectiveness ratio of less than $25,000 per quality-adjusted life year saved compared with no screening). Screening every 6 months provided little additional benefit over that of yearly screening. Results were most sensitive to the rate of progression of ASIL to anal SCC and the effectiveness of treatment of precancerous lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Screening HIV-positive homosexual and bisexual men for ASIL and anal SCC with anal Pap tests offers quality-adjusted life expectancy benefits at a cost comparable with other accepted clinical preventive interventions.     

Cost-effectiveness of alternative triage strategies for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance

CONTEXT: Every year approximately 2 million US women are diagnosed as having a cervical cytological result of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US). OBJECTIVE: To determine the most efficient and cost-effective management strategy for women in the United States diagnosed as having ASC-US. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cost-effectiveness analysis of data from clinical trials, prospective studies, and other published literature. A computer-based model was used to compare 4 management strategies for a cytological result of ASC-US: immediate colposcopy; human papillomavirus (HPV) triage, which includes colposcopy if high-risk HPV types are detected; repeat cytology, which includes follow-up cytology at 6 and 12 months and referral for colposcopy if a repeat abnormal result occurs; and reclassifying ASC-US as normal in which a cytological result of ASC-US is ignored. Reflex HPV DNA testing uses either residual liquid-based cytological specimens or samples co-collected at the time of the initial screening for conventional cytology. Another method, referred to as the 2-visit HPV DNA triage, requires a woman with an ASC-US result to return within 1 month to provide another speciman sample. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Years of life saved (YLS), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. RESULTS: The least costly strategy for biennial screening was to reclassify ASC-US as normal, resulting in a reduction in total cancer incidence of 75% for conventional cytology and 84% for liquid-based cytology compared with no screening. The next least costly strategy was HPV DNA testing resulting in a reduction in total cancer incidence of 86% for conventional cytology and 90% for liquid-based cytology, followed by immediate colposcopy with a reduction of 87% and 91%, respectively. Compared with reflex HPV DNA testing, a strategy of repeat cervical cytology or delayed HPV testing costs more but is less effective. When all strategies were compared simultaneously, varying frequency and type of cytological test, biennial (vs every 3 years) liquid-based cytology with reflex HPV testing had a cost of $174 200 per YLS. In a similar comparison, liquid-based cytology with reflex HPV testing conducted every 3 years (vs every 5 years) had a cost of $59 600 per YLS and was more effective and less costly than a strategy of conventional cytology incorporating repeat cytology or immediate colposcopy conducted biennially. CONCLUSION: Reflex HPV DNA testing provides the same or greater life expectancy benefits and is more cost-effective than other management strategies for women diagnosed as having ASC-US.     

Cost-utility analysis of screening intervals for diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

CONTEXT: Annual eye screening for patients with diabetes mellitus is frequently proposed as a measure of quality of care. However, the benefit of annual vs less frequent screening intervals has not been well evaluated, especially for low-risk patients. OBJECTIVE: To examine the marginal cost-effectiveness of various screening intervals for eye disease in patients with type 2 diabetes, stratified by age and level of glycemic control. DESIGN: Markov cost-effectiveness model. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Hypothetical patients based on the US population of diabetic patients older than 40 years from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient time spent blind, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and costs of annual vs less frequent screening compared by age and level of hemoglobin A1c. RESULTS: Retinal screening in patients with type 2 diabetes is an effective intervention; however, the risk reduction varies dramatically by age and level of glycemic control. On average, a high-risk patient who is aged 45 years and has a hemoglobin A1c level of 11% gains 21 days of sight when screened annually as opposed to every third year, while a low-risk patient who is aged 65 years and has a hemoglobin A1c level of 7% gains an average of 3 days of sight. The marginal cost-effectiveness of screening annually vs every other year also varies; patients in the high-risk group cost an additional $40530 per QALY gained, while those in the low-risk group cost an additional $211570 per QALY gained. In the US population, retinal screening annually vs every other year for patients with type 2 diabetes costs $107510 per QALY gained, while screening every other year vs every third year costs $49760 per QALY gained. CONCLUSIONS: Annual retinal screening for all patients with type 2 diabetes without previously detected retinopathy may not be warranted on the basis of cost-effectiveness, and tailoring recommendations to individual circumstances may be preferable. Organizations evaluating quality of care should consider costs and benefits carefully before setting universal standards.     

Policy analysis of cervical cancer screening strategies in low-resource settings: clinical benefits and cost-effectiveness.

CONTEXT: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death among women in developing countries. In such low-resource settings, cytology-based screening is difficult to implement, and less complex strategies may offer additional options. OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness of several cervical cancer screening strategies using population-specific data. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cost-effectiveness analysis using a mathematical model and a hypothetical cohort of previously unscreened 30-year-old black South African women. Screening tests included direct visual inspection (DVI) of the cervix, cytologic methods, and testing for high-risk types of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA. Strategies differed by number of clinical visits, screening frequency, and response to a positive test result. Data sources included a South African screening study, national surveys and fee schedules, and published literature. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Years of life saved (YLS), lifetime costs in US dollars, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (cost per YLS). RESULTS: When analyzing all strategies performed as a single lifetime screen at age 35 years compared with no screening, HPV testing followed by treatment of screen-positive women at a second visit, cost $39/YLS (27% cancer incidence reduction); DVI, coupled with immediate treatment of screen-positive women at the first visit was next most effective (26% cancer incidence reduction) and was cost saving; cytology, followed by treatment of screen-positive women at a second visit was least effective (19% cancer incidence reduction) at a cost of $81/YLS. For any given screening frequency, when strategies were compared incrementally, HPV DNA testing generally was more effective but also more costly than DVI, and always was more effective and less costly than cytology. When comparing all strategies simultaneously across screening frequencies, DVI was the nondominated strategy up to a frequency of every 3 years (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, $460/YLS), and HPV testing every 3 years (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, $11 500/YLS) was the most effective strategy. CONCLUSION: Cervical cancer screening strategies that incorporate DVI or HPV DNA testing and eliminate colposcopy may offer attractive alternatives to cytology-based screening programs in low-resource settings.     

Cost-utility analysis of the cochlear implant in children

CONTEXT: Barriers to the use of cochlear implants in children with profound deafness include device costs, difficulty assessing benefit, and lack of data to compare the implant with other medical interventions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the quality of life and cost consequences for deaf children who receive a cochlear implant. DESIGN: Cost-utility analysis using preintervention, postintervention, and cross-sectional surveys conducted from July 1998 to May 2000. SETTING: Hearing clinic at a US academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Parents of 78 profoundly deaf children (average age, 7.5 years) who received cochlear implants. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Direct and total cost to society per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) using the time-trade-off (TTO), visual analog scale (VAS), and Health Utilities Index-Mark III (HUI), discounting costs and benefits 3% annually. Parents rated their child's health state at the time of the survey and immediately before and 1 year before implantation. RESULTS: Recipients had an average of 1.9 years of implant use. Mean VAS scores increased by 0. 27, from 0.59 before implantation to 0.86 at survey. In a subset of participants, TTO scores increased by 0.22, from 0.75 to 0.97 (n = 40) and HUI scores increased by 0.39, from 0.25 to 0.64 (n = 22). Quality-of-life scores were no different 1 year before and immediately before implantation. Discounted direct costs were $60,228, yielding $9,029 per QALY using the TTO, $7,500 per QALY using the VAS, and $5,197 per QALY using the HUI. Including indirect costs such as reduced educational expenses, the cochlear implant provided a savings of $53,198 per child. CONCLUSIONS: Cochlear implants in profoundly deaf children have a positive effect on quality of life at reasonable direct costs and appear to result in a net savings to society. JAMA. 2000;284:850-856     

高危型人乳头瘤病毒检测在子宫颈病变筛查和处理中的意义及作用

人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)感染是子宫颈癌发生的必要因素,HPV检测可最大程度优化子宫颈筛查和子宫颈异常细胞学的临床处理。对于30岁以上妇女,如HPV检测为阴性且子宫颈细胞学检查正常,可安全地将子宫颈筛查间隔延长至3年。但是,由于HPV病毒感染在年轻妇女中常见且多为一过性感染,因此不建议将HPV检测作为年龄小于30岁妇女的子宫颈筛查内容。对于任何年龄妇女,建议将HPV检测作为未明确诊断的不典型鳞状上皮细胞患者的分流检测方法,同时对于不能除外高度鳞状上皮内病变的不典型鳞状上皮细胞、鳞状上皮内低度病变或不典型腺细胞而未发现中或重度不典型增生的患者,HPV也是随诊方法之一。对于治疗后患者,HPV检测也和阴道镜及子宫颈细胞学一样,可作为随诊方法。HPV检测的正确使用可促进异常子宫颈细胞学的处理。     

Screening for proteinuria in US adults: a cost-effectiveness analysis

Context  Chronic kidney disease is a growing public health problem. Screening for early identification could improve health but could also lead to unnecessary harms and excess costs. Objective  To assess the value of periodic, population-based dipstick screening for early detection of urine protein in adults with neither hypertension nor diabetes and in adults with hypertension. Design, Setting, and Population  Cost-effectiveness analysis using a Markov decision analytic model to compare a strategy of annual screening with no screening (usual care) for proteinuria at age 50 years followed by treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II-receptor blocker (ARB). Main Outcome Measure  Cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Results  For persons with neither hypertension nor diabetes, the cost-effectiveness ratio for screening vs no screening (usual care) was unfavorable ($282 818 per QALY; incremental cost of $616 and a gain of 0.0022 QALYs per person). However, screening such persons beginning at age 60 years yielded a more favorable ratio ($53 372 per QALY). For persons with hypertension, the ratio was highly favorable ($18 621 per QALY; incremental cost of $476 and a gain of 0.03 QALYs per person). Cost-effectiveness was mediated by both chronic kidney disease progression and death prevention benefits of ACE inhibitor and ARB therapy. Influential parameters that might make screening for the general population more cost-effective include a greater incidence of proteinuria, age at screening ($53 372 per QALY for persons beginning screening at age 60 years), or lower frequency of screening (every 10 years: $80 700 per QALY at age 50 years; $6195 per QALY at age 60 years; and $5486 per QALY at age 70 years). Conclusions  Early detection of urine protein to slow progression of chronic kidney disease and decrease mortality is not cost-effective unless selectively directed toward high-risk groups (older persons and persons with hypertension) or conducted at an infrequent interval of 10 years.      

Human papillomavirus screening and cervical cancer prevention

Infection with one of several types of human papillomavirus (HPV) appears to be a necessary first step in the development of invasive cervical cancer. We cannot currently treat HPV infections; thus, the role of HPV testing is to identify women with precancerous lesions that can be removed and, in so doing, prevent progression to invasive carcinoma. Although HPV testing may help to identify women at risk of cervical cancer who might be missed by other screening tests, it is inherently nonspecific at identifying those who would otherwise develop cervical cancer. In order to avoid overtreatment of women with minor lesions with little potential for progression, HPV testing needs to be repeated or combined with Pap smears. Protocols for HPV screening have yet to be properly evaluated. Here we consider several possible applications of HPV testing in the prevention of cervical cancer. The most immediate role is as a secondary test in women with minor cytological abnormalities. Appropriate use of HPV testing as a primary screening tool depends on the setting. In a developed country without an organized screening program, HPV testing might be used in addition to Pap smears in women age 35 and over to increase sensitivity. Within an organized screening program, HPV testing might be used in combination with Pap testing, but with extended screening intervals so as to obtain the maximum advantage to women without unduly increasing costs. Where resources are strictly limited, an attractive option would be to perform visual inspection of the cervix after application of dilute acetic acid using a low threshold for referral, and to test for HPV only on those with abnormal looking lesions.     

Molecular testing of human papillomavirus in cervical specimens

OBJECTIVE: To improve the diagnosis of cervical neoplasia by early detection of human papillomavirus (HPV) in uterine cervix, by adding molecular testing of HPV using hybrid capture 2 (HC2) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to Papanicolaou (Pap) test. METHODS: One hundred women were enrolled in this study. The mean age (mean +/- SD) was 41.97 +/- 8.76 years and the range was 27-65 years. All women had undergone cervical cytological screening with cervical cytology, HPV DNA testing by HC2 and PCR, during the period from January - December 2006, at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital (KAAUH) and King Fahd Research Centre, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. RESULTS: The results we obtained by HC2 for detection of HPV were 5 (5%) high-risk HPV, one low-risk HPV (1%) and 94 (94%) negative cases. The PCR detected only 4 (4%) cases. Using the HC2 test as a reference, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive, negative predictive values and accuracy of baseline Pap were 50, 85, 17.7, 96.4, and 83%; of final Pap smear were 100, 96.8, 66.7, 100, 97%, and for PCR were 66.7, 100, 100, 97.9, and 98%. The Pap test was repeated within a year for patients with abnormal Pap or negative Pap test with positive HPV DNA. CONCLUSION: Combined screening by cytology and HPV testing using both HC2 and PCR sensitively detects women with existing disease. The absence of HPV DNA provides reassurance that patients are unlikely to develop cancer for several years. We suggest using Pap with HC2 and PCR in screening programs to ensure that women with the double negative result at baseline might safely be screened at longer intervals.     

Hepatitis C: an economic evaluation of extended treatment with interferon.

OBJECTIVES: To re-evaluate the cost effectiveness of treating hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with interferon alfa (IF alpha) in Australia, taking into account changes in clinical practice. DESIGN: A decision-analytic method (Markov model) was used to simulate the costs and effects of 6 months and 12 months of treatment with IF alpha versus no treatment (conventional management). Both costs and effects were modelled over 30 years. DATA SOURCES: Published meta-analysis of the effectiveness of treatment, professional judgement about treatment protocols, scheduled medical fees, diagnosis-related costs for hospital admission, and a literature search for quality-of-life weights. PATIENTS: A hypothetical cohort of 1000 patients with chronic HCV infection aged 40 years at the start of treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incremental costs per life-year gained and per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. RESULTS: Compared with no treatment, IF alpha treatment for 6 months results in an extra 94.2 life-years or 320.1 QALYs at an extra cost of $1.8 million (after discounting at 3%) in a cohort of 1000 patients. Discounted cost per life-year gained is $19,110, which is about a quarter of the cost reported in 1994. The discounted cost per QALY gained is $5625. Extended treatment for another 6 months results in an additional 89.0 life-years saved or 170.8 QALYs gained at an incremental discounted cost of $15,835 per life-year gained and $8250 per QALY gained. CONCLUSIONS: The cost effectiveness of IF alpha treatment for HCV infection has improved as a result of better patient selection, cost reductions and enhanced effectiveness of extended treatment. The results are sensitive to assumptions made about quality of life and the discount rate.     

A cost-effectiveness analysis of hormone replacement therapy in the menopause.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy in the menopause with particular reference to osteoporotic fracture and myocardial infarction. DESIGN: The multiple-decrement form of the life table was the mathematical model used to follow women of age 50 through their lifetime under the "no hormone replacement" and "hormone replacement" assumptions. Standard demographic and health economic techniques were used to calculate the corresponding lifetime differences in direct health care costs (net costs in dollars) and health effects ("net effectiveness" in terms of life expectancy and quality, in "quality-adjusted life-years"). This was then expressed as a cost-effectiveness ratio or the cost ($) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) for each of the chosen hormone replacement regimens. SETTING AND PATIENTS: All women of age 50 in New South Wales, Australia (n = 27,021). RESULTS: The analysis showed that the lifetime net increments in direct medical care costs were largely contributed by hormone drug and consultation costs. Hormone replacement was associated with increased quality-adjusted life expectancy, a large percentage of which was attributed to a relief of menopausal symptoms. Cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from under 10,000 to over a million dollars per QALY. Factors associated with improved cost-effectiveness were prolonged treatment duration, the presence of menopausal symptoms, minimum progestogen side effects (in the case of oestrogen with progestogen regimens), oestrogen use after hysterectomy and the inclusion of cardiac benefits in addition to fracture prevention. CONCLUSIONS: Hormone replacement therapy for symptomatic women is cost-effective when factors that enhance its efficiency are considered. Short-term treatment of asymptomatic women for prevention of osteoporotic fractures and myocardial infarction is an inefficient use of health resources. Cost-effectiveness of hormone replacement in asymptomatic women is dependent on the magnitude of cardiac benefits associated with hormone use and the treatment duration.     

Identifying women with cervical neoplasia: using human papillomavirus DNA testing for equivocal Papanicolaou results

CONTEXT: A Papanicolaou (Pap) test result of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) presents a clinical challenge. Only 5% to 10% of women with ASCUS harbor serious cervical disease, but more than one third of the high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) in screening populations are identified from ASCUS Pap test results. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing of residual material from liquid-based Pap tests and referral of cases found to be HPV-positive directly to colposcopy could provide sensitive detection of underlying HSILs in women with ASCUS Pap results, compared with repeat Pap testing. DESIGN AND SETTING: Natural history of women with ASCUS Pap smear results, all of whom had liquid-based cytology, HPV testing, and subsequent repeat Pap tests and colposcopy with histologic evaluation, conducted at 12 gynecology clinics in a large managed care organization between October 1995 and June 1996. PARTICIPANTS: From a cohort of 46009 women who had routine cervical examinations, 995 women with Pap test results of ASCUS who consented to participate were identified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cervical histology, HPV test results, and repeat Pap smear results, and sensitivity of HPV testing to identify patients found to have HSIL+ histology. RESULTS: Of 995 participants with ASCUS Pap test results, 973 had both a definitive histologic diagnosis and HPV result. Sixty-five (6.7%) had histologic HSIL or cancer. For women with histologic HSIL+, the HPV test was positive in 89.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.4%-95.2%), and the specificity was 64.1 % (95% CI, 60.9%-67.2%). The repeat Pap smear result was abnormal in 76.2% (95% CI, 63.5%-85.7%). Triage based on HPV testing only or on repeat Pap testing only would refer similar proportions (approximately 39%) to colposcopy. The sensitivity of HPV DNA testing for HSIL was equivalent to, if not greater than, that of the repeat Pap test. We further estimated that an HPV-based algorithm including the immediate colposcopy of HPV-positive women, and then repeat Pap testing of all others, would provide an overall sensitivity of 96.9% (95% CI, 88.3%-99.5%). CONCLUSIONS: For women with ASCUS Pap tests, HPV DNA testing of residual specimens collected for routine cervical cytology can help identify those who have underlying HSIL. By testing the specimen collected at initial screening, the majority of high-risk cases can be identified and referred for colposcopy based on a single screening.     

Cost-effectiveness of chronic hepatitis C treatment with thymosin alpha-1

BACKGROUND: More than one million individuals in Mexico are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and 80% are at risk for developing a chronic infection that could lead to hepatic cirrhosis and other complications that impact quality of life and institutional costs. The objective of the study was to determine the most cost-effective treatment against HCV among the following: peginterferon, peginterferon plus ribavirin, peginterferon plus ribavirin plus thymosin, and no treatment. METHODS: We carried out cost-effectiveness analysis using the institutional perspective, including a 45-year time frame and a 3% discount rate for costs and effectiveness. We employed a Bayesian-focused decision tree and a Markov model. One- and two-way sensitivity analyses were performed, as well as threshold-oriented and probabilistic analyses, and we obtained acceptability curves and net health benefits. RESULTS: Triple therapy (peginterferon plus ribavirin plus thymosin alpha-1) was dominant with lower cost and higher utility in relationship with peginterferon + ribavirin option, peginterferon alone and no-treatment option. In triple therapy the cost per unit of success was of 1,908 [USD/quality-adjusted life years (QALY)] compared with peginterferon plus ribavirin 2,277/QALY, peginterferon alone 2,929/QALY, and no treatment 4,204/QALY. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the base case. CONCLUSIONS: Peginterferon plus ribavirin plus thymosin alpha-1 option was dominant (lowest cost and highest effectiveness). Using no drug was the most expensive and least effective option.     

Cost-effectiveness of screening for colorectal cancer in the general population

CONTEXT: A recent expert panel recommended that persons at average risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) begin screening for CRC at age 50 years using 1 of several strategies. However, many aspects of different CRC screening strategies remain uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To assess the consequences, costs, and cost-effectiveness of CRC screening in average-risk individuals. DESIGN: Cost-effectiveness analysis from a societal perspective using a Markov model. SUBJECTS: Hypothetical subjects representative of the 50-year-old US population at average risk for CRC. SETTING: Simulated clinical practice in the United States. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Discounted lifetime costs, life expectancy, and incremental cost-effectiveness (CE) ratio, compared used 22 different CRC screening strategies, including those recommended by the expert panel. RESULTS: In 1 base-case analysis, compliance was assumed to be 60% with the initial screen and 80% with follow-up or surveillance colonoscopy. The most effective strategy for white men was annual rehydrated fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) plus sigmoidoscopy (followed by colonoscopy if either a low- or high-risk polyp was found) every 5 years from age 50 to 85 years, which resulted in a 60% reduction in cancer incidence and an 80% reduction in CRC mortality compared with no screening, and an incremental CE ratio of $92,900 per year of life gained compared with annual unrehydrated FOBT plus sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. In a base-case analysis in which compliance with screening and follow-up is assumed to be 100%, screening more often than every 10 years was prohibitively expensive; annual rehydrated FOBT plus sigmoidoscopy every 5 years had an incremental CE ratio of $489,900 per life-year gained compared with the same strategy every 10 years. Other strategies recommended by the expert panel were either less effective or cost more per year of life gained than the alternatives. Colonoscopy every 10 years was less effective than the combination of annual FOBT plus sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. However, a single colonoscopy at age 55 years achieves nearly half of the reduction in CRC mortality obtainable with colonoscopy every 10 years. Because of increased life expectancy among white women and increased cancer mortality among blacks, CRC screening was even more cost-effective in these groups than in white men. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for CRC, even in the setting of imperfect compliance, significantly reduces CRC mortality at costs comparable to other cancer screening procedures. However, compliance rates significantly affect the incremental CE ratios. In this model of CRC, 60% compliance with an every 5-year schedule of screening was roughly equivalent to 100% compliance with an every 10-year schedule. Mathematical modeling used to inform clinical guidelines needs to take into account expected compliance rates. JAMA. 2000;284:1954-1961.     

宫颈疾病筛查项目在妇科专项体检中的应用状况

 目的 调查宫颈疾病筛查项目在常规体检中的应用状况。方法 回顾分析2010年1月1日至2011年12月31日复旦大学附属妇产科医院体检中心所有参加体检的24 135例次资料,调查其宫颈疾病筛查项目状况,包括巴氏涂片检查(Papanicolaou smear,Pap)、液基细胞学检测(thinprep cytology test,TCT)、人乳头瘤病毒(human papillomavirus,HPV)检测及联合检测(HPV+Pap或HPV+TCT)的应用情况,同时计算HPV检测人群中病毒负荷量的分布情况。结果 行Pap检查者12 967例次(53.7%),TCT检测者9 516例次(39.4%),HPV检测者5 517例次(22.9%),联合检测共计5 461例次(22.7%)。宫颈异常阳性检出率TCT高于Pap (χ2=3.866,P=0.049)。分层分析表明,HPV+Pap或HPV+TCT的联合检测法均显著优于单纯Pap或TCT检测(χ2=419.954, P=0.000;χ2=588.001,P=0.000),提示HPV检测的重要性。结论 妇科专项体检中宫颈疾病筛查方法传统,HPV检测和联合检测应用率偏低,应引起重视。同时,对于HPV负荷量≤100 RLU/CO的高危人群宜跟踪随访,以早期发现病变、降低宫颈癌发病风险。     

Potential health and economic impact of adding a human papillomavirus vaccine to screening programs

Context  Recently published results suggest that effective vaccines against cervical cancer—associated human papillomavirus (HPV) may become available within the next decade. Objective  To examine the potential health and economic effects of an HPV vaccine in a setting of existing screening. Design, Setting, and Population  A Markov model was used to estimate the lifetime (age 12-85 years) costs and life expectancy of a hypothetical cohort of women screened for cervical cancer in the United States. Three strategies were compared: (1) vaccination only; (2) conventional cytological screening only; and (3) vaccination followed by screening. Two of the strategies incorporated a vaccine targeted against a defined proportion of high-risk (oncogenic) HPV types. Screening intervals of 1, 2, 3, and 5 years and starting ages for screening of 18, 22, 24, 26, and 30 years were chosen for 2 of the strategies (conventional cytological screening only and vaccination followed by screening). Main Outcome Measures  Incremental cost per life-year gained. Results  Vaccination only or adding vaccination to screening conducted every 3 and 5 years was not cost-effective. However, at more frequent screening intervals, strategies combining vaccination and screening were preferred. Vaccination plus biennial screening delayed until age 24 years had the most attractive cost-effectiveness ratio ($44 889) compared with screening only beginning at age 18 years and conducted every 3 years. However, the strategy of vaccination with annual screening beginning at age 18 years had the largest overall reduction in cancer incidence and mortality at a cost of $236 250 per life-year gained compared with vaccination and annual screening beginning at age 22 years. The cost-effectiveness of vaccination plus delayed screening was highly sensitive to age of vaccination, duration of vaccine efficacy, and cost of vaccination. Conclusions  Vaccination for HPV in combination with screening can be a cost-effective health intervention, but it depends on maintaining effectiveness during the ages of peak oncogenic HPV incidence. Identifying the optimal age for vaccination should be a top research priority.      

Continuing screening mammography in women aged 70 to 79 years: impact on life expectancy and cost-effectiveness

CONTEXT: Mammography is recommended and is cost-effective for women aged 50 to 69 years, but the value of continuing screening mammography after age 69 years is not known. In particular, older women with low bone mineral density (BMD) have a lower risk of breast cancer and may benefit less from continued screening. OBJECTIVE: To compare life expectancy and cost-effectiveness of screening mammography in elderly women based on 3 screening strategies. DESIGN: Decision analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis using a Markov model. PATIENTS: General population of women aged 65 years or older. INTERVENTIONS: The analysis compared 3 strategies: (1) Undergoing biennial mammography from age 65 to 69 years; (2) undergoing biennial mammography from age 65 to 69 years, measurement of distal radial BMD at age 65 years, discontinuing screening at age 69 years in women in the lowest BMD quartile for age, and continuing biennial mammography to age 79 years in those in the top 3 quartiles of distal radius BMD; and (3) undergoing biennial mammography from age 65 to 79 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Deaths due to breast cancer averted, life expectancy, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. RESULTS: Compared with discontinuing mammography screening at age 69 years, measuring BMD at age 65 years in 10000 women and continuing mammography to age 79 years only in women with BMD in the top 3 quartiles would prevent 9.4 deaths and add, on average, 2.1 days to life expectancy at an incremental cost of $66773 per year of life saved. Continuing mammography to age 79 years in all 10000 elderly women would prevent 1.4 additional breast cancer deaths and add only 7.2 hours to life expectancy at an incremental cost of $117689 per year of life saved compared with only continuing mammography to age 79 years in women with BMD in the top 3 quartiles. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests that continuing mammography screening after age 69 years results in a small gain in life expectancy and is moderately cost-effective in those with high BMD and more costly in those with low BMD. Women's preferences for a small gain in life expectancy and the potential harms of screening mammography should play an important role when elderly women are deciding about screening.     

Benefits, harms and costs of screening mammography in women 70 years and over: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE: To assess the (i) benefits, (ii) harms and (iii) costs of continuing mammographic screening for women 70 years and over. DATA SOURCES AND SYNTHESIS: (i) We conducted a MEDLINE search (1966 - July 2000) for decision-analytic models estimating life-expectancy gains from screening in older women. The five studies meeting the inclusion criteria were critically appraised using standard criteria. We estimated relative benefit from each model's estimate of effectiveness of screening in older women relative to that in women aged 50-69 years using the same model. (ii) With data from BreastScreen Queensland, we constructed balance sheets of the consequences of screening for women in 10-year age groups (40-49 to 80-89 years), and (iii) we used a validated model to estimate the marginal cost-effectiveness of extending screening to women 70 years and over. RESULTS: For women aged 70-79 years, the relative benefit was estimated as 40%-72%, and 18%-62% with adjustment for the impact of screening on quality of life. For women over 80 years the relative benefit was about a third, and with quality-of-life adjustment only 14%, that in women aged 50-69 years. (ii) Of 10,000 Australian women participating in ongoing screening, about 400 are recalled for further testing, and, depending on age, about 70-112 undergo biopsy and about 19-80 cancers are detected. (iii) Cost-effectiveness estimates for extending the upper age limit for mammographic screening from 69 to 79 years range from $8119 to $27 751 per quality-adjusted life-year saved, which compares favourably with extending screening to women aged 40-49 years (estimated at between $24,000 and $65,000 per life-year saved). CONCLUSIONS: Women 70 years and over, in consultation with their healthcare providers, may want to decide for themselves whether to continue mammographic screening. Decision-support materials are needed for women in this age group.     

Cost-effectiveness of practice-initiated quality improvement for depression: results of a randomized controlled trial

CONTEXT: Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, but treatment rates in primary care are low. OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost-effectiveness from a societal perspective of 2 quality improvement (QI) interventions to improve treatment of depression in primary care and their effects on patient employment. DESIGN: Group-level randomized controlled trial conducted June 1996 to July 1999. SETTING: Forty-six primary care clinics in 6 community-based managed care organizations. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred eighty-one primary care clinicians and 1356 patients with positive screening results for current depression. INTERVENTIONS: Matched practices were randomly assigned to provide usual care (n = 443 patients) or to 1 of 2 QI interventions offering training to practice leaders and nurses, enhanced educational and assessment resources, and either nurses for medication follow-up (QI-meds; n = 424 patients) or trained local psychotherapists (QI-therapy; n = 489). Practices could flexibly implement the interventions, which did not assign type of treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total health care costs, costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), days with depression burden, and employment over 24 months, compared between usual care and the 2 interventions. RESULTS: Relative to usual care, average health care costs increased $419 (11%) in QI-meds (P =.35) and $485 (13%) in QI-therapy (P =.28); estimated costs per QALY gained were between $15 331 and $36 467 for QI-meds and $9478 and $21 478 for QI-therapy; and patients had 25 (P =.19) and 47 (P =.01) fewer days with depression burden and were employed 17.9 (P =.07) and 20.9 (P =.03) more days during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Societal cost-effectiveness of practice-initiated QI efforts for depression is comparable with that of accepted medical interventions. The intervention effects on employment may be of particular interest to employers and other stakeholders.     

Periodic health examination, 1995 update: 1. Screening for human papillomavirus infection in asymptomatic women. Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination.

OBJECTIVE: To develop recommendations for practising physicians on the advisability of screening for human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in asymptomatic women. OPTIONS: Visual inspection, Papanicolaou testing, colposcopy or cervicography, use of HPV group-specific antigen, DNA hybridization, dot blot technique, Southern blot technique or polymerase chain reaction followed by physical or chemical therapeutic intervention. OUTCOMES: Evidence for a link between HPV infection and cervical cancer, sensitivity and specificity of HPV screening techniques, effectiveness of treatments for HPV infection, and the social and economic costs incurred by screening. EVIDENCE: MEDLINE was searched for articles published between January 1966 to June 1993 with the use of the key words "papillomavirus," "cervix neoplasms," "mass screening," "prospective studies," "prevalence," "sensitivity," "specificity," "human" and "female." VALUES: Proven cost-effective screening techniques that could lead to decreased morbidity or mortality were given a high value. The evidence-based methods and values of the Canadian Task Force on the Periodic Health Examination were used. BENEFITS, HARMS AND COSTS: Potential benefits are to prevent cervical cancer and eliminate HPV infection. Potential harmful effects include the creation of an unnecessary burden on the health care system and the labelling of otherwise healthy people as patients with a sexually transmitted disease for which therapy is generally ineffective. Potential costs would include expense of testing, increased use of colposcopy and treatment. RECOMMENDATIONS: There is fair evidence to exclude HPV screening (beyond Papanicolaou testing for cervical cancer) in asymptomatic women (grade D recommendation). VALIDATION: The report was reviewed by members of the task force and three external reviewers who were selected to represent different areas of expertise. SPONSORS: These guidelines were developed and endorsed by the task force, which is funded by Health Canada and the National Health Research and Development Program. The principal author (K.J.) was supported in part by the National Health Research and Development Program through a National Health Fellowship (AIDS).