Table 3.
Age, y | ICER, by Previous Fracture, $/QALY | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
No Previous Fracture† | Previous Fracture | |||
Test and Selective Alendronate Therapy | No Test and Universal Alendronate Therapy | Test and Selective Alendronate Therapy | No Test and Universal Alendronate Therapy | |
60 | 156 900 | 470 300 | 19 600 | 119 000 |
65 | 95 500 | 283 000 | 8500 | 72 300 |
70† | 66 800 | 178 700 | 6300 | 44 500 |
75 | 46 900 | 103 000 | 5700 | 17 300 |
80 | 37 200 | 61 500 | Dominated‡ | 2300 |
ICER = incremental cost-effectiveness ratio; QALY = quality-adjusted life-year.
ICER was measured by cost per QALY gained. The no test–no alendronate strategy was the reference strategy because it was the least costly, viable (nondominated) option. The strategy was considered cost-effective if its ICER was less than $100 000 per QALY gained (32, 63).
Base-case assumptions.
Universal alendronate therapy without a bone mineral density test dominated this strategy by simple dominance because it was less effective and more costly.