Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
SSE/EFI Working Paper Series in Economics and Finance,
Stockholm School of Economics
No 571: A reassessment of the cost-effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy in Sweden – results based on the Women’s Health Initiative randomised controlled trial
Niklas Zethraeus (), Fredrik Borgström (), Bengt Jönsson () and John Kanis ()
Additional contact information
Niklas Zethraeus: Dept. of Economics, Stockholm School of Economics, Postal: Stockholm School of Economics, P.O. Box 6501, SE-113 83 Stockholm, Sweden
Fredrik Borgström: Medical Management Centre at the Karolinska Institute (KI) and Stockholm Health Economics, Postal: Klarabergsgatan 33 3tr, SE-111 21 Stockholm, Sweden
Bengt Jönsson: Dept. of Economics, Stockholm School of Economics, Postal: Stockholm School of Economics, P.O. Box 6501, SE-113 83 Stockholm, Sweden
John Kanis: Centre for Metabolic Bone Diseases (WHO Collaborating Centre), Postal: University of Sheffield Medical School, UK, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
Abstract: The cost-effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) based on a societal perspective is reassessed based on new medical evidence found in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI). Within a model framework using an individual state transition model the cost-effectiveness of 50-60 year old women with menopausal symptoms is assessed in Sweden. The Markov model has a 50 year time horizon divided into a cycle length of 1 year. The model consists of the following disease states: Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Stroke, Venous thromboembolic events, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, hip fracture, vertebral fracture and wrist fracture. An intervention is modelled by its impact on the disease risks during and after the cessation of therapy. The model calculates costs and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) with and without intervention. The resulting cost per gained QALY is compared to the value of a gained QALY, which is set to SEK 600 000. The model requires data on clinical effects, risks, mortality rates, quality of life weights and costs valid for Sweden. The cost-effectiveness ratios are estimated at about SEK 10 000, which is far below the value of a gained QALY. Conditional on that HRT increases the quality of life weight more than 0.013 the therapy is cost-effective. In conclusion, given the new evidence in WHI, there is still a high probability that HRT is a cost-effective strategy for women with menopausal symptoms.
Keywords: cost-effectiveness analysis; hormone replacement therapy; Markov model
37 pages, December 6, 2004
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