Department of Biomedical Engineering, Division of Medical Informatics, Linköping, Sweden.
This study aimed to develop a probabilistic decision support model to calculate the lifetime incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) between radical prostatectomy and watchful waiting for different patient groups.
A randomized trial (SPCG-4) provided most data for this study. Data on survival, costs and quality of life were inputs in a decision analysis, and a decision support model was developed. The model can generate cost-effectiveness information on subgroups of patients with different characteristics.
Age was the most important independent factor explaining cost-effectiveness. The cost-effectiveness value varied from 21 026 Swedish kronor (SEK) to 858 703 SEK for those aged 65 to 75 years, depending on Gleason scores and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values. Information from the decision support model can support decision makers in judging whether or not radical prostatectomy (RP) should be used to treat a specific patient group.
The cost-effectiveness ratio for RP varies with age, Gleason scores, and PSA values. Assuming a threshold value of 200 000 SEK per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained, for patients aged ≤ 70 years the treatment was always cost-effective, except at age 70, Gleason 0-4 and PSA ≤ 10. Using the same threshold value at age 75, Gleason 7-9 (regardless of PSA) and Gleason 5-6 (with PSA >20) were cost-effective. Hence, RP was not perceived to be cost-effective in men aged 75 years with low Gleason and low PSA. Higher threshold values for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer could be discussed.
Written by:
Lyth J, Andersson SO, Andrén O, Johansson JE, Carlsson P, Shahsavar N. Are you the author?
Reference: Scand J Urol Nephrol. 2011 Sep 12. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.3109/00365599.2011.615759
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21905981
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