Citation

Ito K, Hollenberg JP, Charlson ME. J. Am. Geriatr. Soc. 2009; 57(2): 218-224.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1532-5415.2008.02110.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To compare health benefits and costs associated with performing bone densitometry for all men with those of risk‐stratifying using the Osteoporosis Self‐Assessment Tool (OST) and performing bone densitometry only for a high‐risk group.

DESIGN: A decision analytical model was developed using a Markov process. Three strategies were compared: no bone densitometry, selective bone densitometry using the OST, and universal bone densitometry. Data sources were U.S. epidemiological studies and healthcare cost figures.

SETTING: Hypothetical cohort.

PARTICIPANTS: Community‐dwelling 70‐year‐old U.S. white men with no history of clinical osteoporotic fractures.

INTERVENTION: Five years of alendronate therapy for those diagnosed with osteoporosis.

MEASUREMENTS: Life years, quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs), costs, and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios.

RESULTS: Selective bone densitometry using the OST would cost $100,700 per additional life year gained compared to the no bone densitometry strategy. Universal bone densitometry would cost $483,500 for additional life year gained compared to selective bone densitometry. When quality of life was considered, both strategies became approximately 15% more cost‐effective. Compared with the no bone densitometry strategy, selective bone densitometry would be cost saving for those aged 84 and older, with a reduction of alendronate price (≤$110 per year), or with a higher efficacy of alendronate (a relative risk reduction of nonvertebral fracture ≥82%).

CONCLUSION: Universal bone densitometry for 70‐year‐old men is not a good investment for society. It is reasonably cost‐effective to risk‐stratify with the OST, perform bone densitometry only for high‐risk group, and then give men diagnosed with osteoporosis generic alendronate.