Cost–effectiveness of surveillance strategies after treatment for high grade CIN

January 01, 0001

Cost-effectiveness of surveillance strategies after treatment for high grade CIN

The purpose of this study by US authors was to estimate outcomes and costs of surveillance strategies after treatment for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). A hypothetical cohort of women was evaluated after treatment for CIN 2 or 3 using a Markov model incorporating data from a large study of women treated for CIN, systematic reviews of test accuracy, and individual preferences. Surveillance strategies included initial conventional or liquid-based cytology, human papillomavirus testing, or colposcopy 6 months after treatment, followed by annual or triennial cytology.

They found: "Conventional cytology at 6 and 12 months, followed by triennial cytology, was least costly. Compared with triennial cytology, annual cytology follow-up reduced expected cervical cancer deaths by 73% to 77% and had an average incremental cost per life-year gained of $69,000 to $81,000. For colposcopy followed by annual cytology, the incremental cost per life-year gained ranged from $70,000 to more than $1 million, depending on risk. Between- strategy differences in mean additional life expectancy per woman were less than 4 days; differences in mean incremental costs per woman were as high as $822. In the cost-utility analysis, colposcopy at 6 months followed by annual cytology had an incremental cost per quality-adjusted life-year of less than $5,500. Human papillomavirus testing or liquid-based cytology added little to no improvement to life-expectancy with higher costs."

The authors concluded: "Annual conventional cytology surveillance reduced cervical cancers and cancer deaths compared with triennial cytology. For high risk of recurrence, a strategy of colposcopy at 6 months increased life expectancy and quality-adjusted life expectancy. Human papillomavirus testing and liquid-based cytology increased costs, but not effectiveness, compared with traditional approaches."

It would have been helpful to include a specific time limit for the annual cytology, maybe 3-5 years.

For the full abstract, click here.

Obstet Gynecol 116(5):1158-1170, November 2010 © 2010 to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
Surveillance After Treatment for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia: Outcomes, Costs, and Cost-Effectiveness. Joy Melnikow, Shalini Kulasingam, Christina Slee, et al.

Category: X. Female Genital System, Breast. Keywords: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, CIN, cytology, colposcopy, human papillomavirus testing, cost-effectiveness analysis, journal watch.
Synopsis edited by Dr Linda French, Toledo, Ohio. Posted on Global Family Doctor 9 November 2010

Pearls are an independent product of the Cochrane primary care group and are meant for educational use and not to guide clinical care.