Hong Kong Med J 2010;16(Suppl 3):S38-41
Cost-effectiveness analysis of mammography screening in Hong Kong Chinese using state-transition Markov modelling
IOL Wong, KM Kuntz, BJ Cowling, CLK Lam, GM Leung
Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
1. We developed a state-transition Markov model to assess the consequences, costs, and cost-effectiveness of biennial mammography screening strategies in Hong Kong Chinese women, and to inform on evidence-based screening policies in Hong Kong, which has a lower breast cancer incidence compared to the West.
2. We adopted a decision analytic framework and a societal perspective. As previously reported, our findings showed a higher incremental cost-effectiveness ratio than in the West and that screening women aged 40 to 69 years was the least costly non-dominated option.
3. Our results suggest that mammography for Hong Kong Chinese women may not be cost-effective based on the threshold of US$50 000 per quality-adjusted life year. However, clinicians must remain vigilant and should periodically revisit the question of population screening.
2. We adopted a decision analytic framework and a societal perspective. As previously reported, our findings showed a higher incremental cost-effectiveness ratio than in the West and that screening women aged 40 to 69 years was the least costly non-dominated option.
3. Our results suggest that mammography for Hong Kong Chinese women may not be cost-effective based on the threshold of US$50 000 per quality-adjusted life year. However, clinicians must remain vigilant and should periodically revisit the question of population screening.