• Kouta Ito, Elena B Elkin, Monica Girotra, and Michael J Morris.
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
• Ann. Intern. Med. 2010 May 18; 152 (10): 621629621-9.

BackgroundAndrogen deprivation therapy (ADT) increases the risk for fractures in patients with prostate cancer.ObjectiveTo assess the cost-effectiveness of measuring bone mineral density (BMD) before initiating ADT followed by alendronate therapy in men with localized prostate cancer.DesignMarkov state-transition model simulating the progression of prostate cancer and the incidence of hip fracture.Data SourcesPublished literature.Target PopulationA hypothetical cohort of men aged 70 years with locally advanced or high-risk localized prostate cancer starting a 2-year course of ADT after radiation therapy.Time HorizonLifetime.PerspectiveSocietal.InterventionNo BMD test or alendronate therapy, a BMD test followed by selective alendronate therapy for patients with osteoporosis, or universal alendronate therapy without a BMD test.Outcome MeasuresIncremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), measured by cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained.Results Of Base Case AnalysisThe ICERs for the strategy of a BMD test and selective alendronate therapy for patients with osteoporosis and universal alendronate therapy without a BMD test were $66,800 per QALY gained and $178,700 per QALY gained, respectively.Results Of Sensitivity AnalysesThe ICER for universal alendronate therapy without a BMD test decreased to $100,000 per QALY gained, assuming older age, a history of fractures, lower mean BMD before ADT, or a lower cost of alendronate.LimitationsNo evidence shows that alendronate reduces actual fracture rates in patients with prostate cancer who receive ADT. The model predicted fracture rates by using data on the surrogate BMD end point.ConclusionIn patients starting adjuvant ADT for locally advanced or high-risk localized prostate cancer, a BMD test followed by selective alendronate for those with osteoporosis is a cost-effective use of resources. Routine use of alendronate without a BMD test is justifiable in patients at higher risk for hip fractures.

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