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Cost-effectiveness of reduction mammaplasty

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2004

Andrew J. Taylor ,
David Tate ,
Yvonne Brandberg  and
Lennart Blomqvist
Andrew J. Taylor
Affiliation:
University of Hull Hull and East Yorkshire Primary Care Trusts
David Tate
Affiliation:
Hull and East Yorkshire Primary Care Trusts
Yvonne Brandberg
Affiliation:
Karolinska Hospital
Lennart Blomqvist
Affiliation:
Karolinska Hospital
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Abstract

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to provide a comparison of the benefits of reduction mammaplasty (RM) for women with heavy breasts often termed macromastia or breast hypertrophy (BH) surgery. The rationale is to provide information to allow decision-makers to make judgments about the cost-effectiveness of this intervention and make comparisons with other interventions which are commonly undertaken within publicly financed health-care systems.

Methods: Data from a previous outcomes study in Sweden is re-analyzed to derive quality of life measures, from which a mean level of benefit outcome is derived and a cost per quality-adjusted life year is calculated (cost per QALY).

Results: The low Cost per QALY suggests that reduction mammaplasty is cost-effective when compared with other treatments which are commonly undertaken.

Conclusions: The authors suggest that the evidence in favor of funding reduction mammaplasty is strong and that decision-makers review their policy in light of this new evidence.

Keywords

BreastMammaplastyQALYHealth-related quality of lifeCost-effectiveness
Type
GENERAL ESSAYS
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 20 , Issue 3 , August 2004 , pp. 269 - 273
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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