Cost-effectiveness research in osteoporosis

The clinical and economic burden of osteoporosis is high and has resulted in increasing interest in assessing the costs and benefits associated with strategies to reduce the incidence of fracture. In this article, we aim to summarize the major issues related to conducting economic evaluations of therapies for osteoporosis. We identify the principal data parameters (baseline clinical probabilities, effectiveness, costs, and utilities) and economic model characteristics (patient age, compliance, and duration of therapy). We highlight these issues by referring to previous studies identified in a systematic review and to current work in the area. Further discussion provides an overview of the results of the existing economic evaluations of therapies for osteoporosis and a brief summary of ongoing research in Canada. In conclusion, there appears to be a consensus in the literature that under most circumstances hormone replacement therapy is cost-effective in the treatment of osteoporosis. Further research is required before definitive conclusions on the cost-effectiveness of other therapies can be made. Drug Dev. Res. 49:135-140, 2000. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.