Hong Kong Med J 2014;20(Suppl 7):S13-5
Cost-effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment for gastric cancer in Hong Kong: a decision analytic approach
IOL Wong, CM Schooling, BJ Cowling
School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong
1. A state-transition Markov model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of Helicobacter pylori screening and treatment in Hong Kong Chinese people, and to evaluate the uncertainty
surrounding choice of strategies and the value of further research on the decision to initiate a mass
screening programme.
2. A decision analytic framework and a societal perspective were adopted. The least costly and non-dominated strategy was H pylori serologic testing, followed by treating those positive for H pylori, with no follow-up testing. Its incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was US$20 547 for men and HK$26 840 for women per life year saved or US$17 886 for men and HK$23 905 for women per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) saved, compared with no screening or treatment.
3. H pylori screening and treatment could be cost-effective based on the threshold of US$50 000 per QALY.
2. A decision analytic framework and a societal perspective were adopted. The least costly and non-dominated strategy was H pylori serologic testing, followed by treating those positive for H pylori, with no follow-up testing. Its incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was US$20 547 for men and HK$26 840 for women per life year saved or US$17 886 for men and HK$23 905 for women per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) saved, compared with no screening or treatment.
3. H pylori screening and treatment could be cost-effective based on the threshold of US$50 000 per QALY.