Cost effectiveness of screening perimenopausal white women for osteoporosis: bone densitometry and hormone replacement therapy

Article Abstract:

Osteoporosis, which results in thousands of fractures each year, is estimated to cost more than $6 billion per year. This disease predominantly affects postmenopausal women. The use of bone densitometry (a measurement of bone density) has been proposed to screen for those at risk for osteoporosis. Hormone replacement can retard the progression of osteoporosis, but is not without risk. The use of estrogen might decrease the risk of coronary artery disease in women, but increases the risk of endometrial and, possibly, breast cancer. Adding progesterone to the hormonal regimen decreases the cancer risks, but its effect on cardiac disease is unknown. Thus, screening patients for osteoporosis and therapeutic decisions on the use of hormone therapy are complicated. A computer model assessing the cost-benefit profile of screening and treating was developed to compare various strategies: no treatment; treatment of those with low bone density (with a presumably greater risk osteoporosis); and universal treatment. Universal treatment would certainly prevent some fractures, but would increase the number of women experiencing adverse effects of hormone therapy and is not cost-effective. When quality of life issues are factored into the assessment, screening with selective treatment appears to be quite cost-effective. However, more data must be gathered on whether bone densitometry screening accurately identifies those at greatest risk for osteoporotic fractures. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Testing, Osteoporosis, Bone densitometry

---

Cost-effectiveness of extending screening mammography guidelines to include women 40 to 49 years of age

Article Abstract:

It appears to be substantially less cost-effective to lower the threshold for mammography screening recommendations from 50 years of age down to 40 years of age. Statistical models were used to compare the cost-effectiveness of routine mammograms among women between 40 and 49 years of age and women between 50 and 69 years of age. Costs were similar for each age group. However, mammograms extended life by only 2.5 days for the younger age group and by 12 days for the older age group.

Women, Medical examination, Cost benefit analysis, Mammography

---

Is aspirin a cost-effective addition to colorectal cancer screening?

Article Abstract:

It is not cost-effective to prescribe an aspirin a day for people to prevent colorectal cancer if they already have periodic medical exams such as fecal occult blood testing and colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. This was the conclusion of researchers who did a computer simulation of the cost-effectiveness of various methods of preventing colorectal cancer.

Usage, Colorectal cancer, Aspirin

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Guidelines for counseling postmenopausal women about preventive hormone therapy. The value of continuing regular Papanicolaou (Pap) smears in postmenopausal women
• Abstracts: Personal use of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy by women physicians in the United States. Hormones to prevent coronary disease in women: when are observational studies adequate evidence?
• Abstracts: Cost-effectiveness of monoclonal antibodies to gram-negative endotoxin in the treatment of gram-negative sepsis in ICU patients
• Abstracts: HHMI to improve teaching. The Wellcome Trust: leadership and partnership in biomedical research. Spending spree to end Canadian `brain drain.'(Prime Minister creates 2,000 research chairs)(News)
• Abstracts: How nurses cope with exposure to HIV infection. Nurses' role in supporting people who are HIV positive. Home truths: palliative care nurses are in the front line as South Africa struggles to cope with its HIV epidemic

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.