Cost-effectiveness of osteoporosis interventions for 'incidental' vertebral fractures.

BACKGROUND: Vertebral fractures detected "incidentally" by chest radiograph usually do not trigger osteoporosis treatment in older patients. In a 3-arm controlled trial we reported that both physician-directed and enhanced (physician plus patient activation) interventions increased treatment rates more than 10-fold (15%-20% absolute increases) compared with usual care; the cost-effectiveness of these interventions is unknown.

METHODS: Incremental cost-effectiveness of these 2 interventions compared with usual care was assessed using a Markov decision-analytic model, populated with 1-year outcomes data and direct intervention costs from the trial. Costs were expressed in 2009 Canadian dollars and effectiveness based on quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. The perspective was health care payer; horizon was projected lifetime; costs and benefits were discounted at 3%; and deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: Per patient, the physician and enhanced interventions cost $34 and $42, respectively. Compared with usual care, for every 1000 patients exposed to the physican intervention there were 4 fewer fractures, 8 more QALYs gained, and $282,000 saved. Compared with physician interventions, for every 1000 patients exposed to enhanced interventions there were 6 fewer fractures, 6 more QALYs gained, and $339,000 saved. Both interventions dominated usual care and were cost-effective in ~80% of 10,000 probabilistic simulations. Although the enhanced intervention cost $8 more per patient, it still dominated the physician intervention and usual care, and was the most economically attractive option.

CONCLUSIONS: Pragmatic and inexpensive interventions directed at patients with incidentally detected vertebral fractures and their physicians are highly cost-effective at improving osteoporosis treatment, and in most circumstances also are cost-saving.