Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Universal Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Using a Dynamic Bayesian Methodology: The BEST II Study

Katrin Haeussler; Andrea Marcellusi; Francesco Saverio Mennini; Giampiero Favato; Mauro Picardo; Giorgia Garganese; Marco Bononi; Silvano Costa; Giovanni Scambia; Peter Zweifel; Alessandro Capone; Gianluca Baio

doi:10.1016/j.jval.2015.08.010

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Universal Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Using a Dynamic Bayesian Methodology: The BEST II Study

Value Health. 2015 Dec;18(8):956-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2015.08.010. Epub 2015 Oct 21.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address: k.haeussler@ucl.ac.uk.
² Economic Evaluation and HTA, Faculty of Economics, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy; Department of Demography, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy.
³ Economic Evaluation and HTA, Faculty of Economics, University of Rome "Tor Vergata," Rome, Italy; Institute of Leadership and Management in Health, Kingston University London, London, UK.
⁴ Institute of Leadership and Management in Health, Kingston University London, London, UK.
⁵ Laboratory of Cutaneous Pathophysiology, San Gallicano Dermatological Institute (IRCCS), Rome, Italy.
⁶ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
⁷ Department of Surgery Pietro Valdoni, University of Rome "La Sapienza," Rome, Italy.
⁸ Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
⁹ Socioeconomic Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
¹⁰ Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London, UK.

PMID: 26686779
DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2015.08.010

Abstract

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a role in the development of benign and malign neoplasms in both sexes. The Italian recommendations for HPV vaccines consider only females. The BEST II study (Bayesian modelling to assess the Effectiveness of a vaccination Strategy to prevent HPV-related diseases) evaluates 1) the cost-effectiveness of immunization strategies targeting universal vaccination compared with cervical cancer screening and female-only vaccination and 2) the economic impact of immunization on various HPV-induced diseases.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate whether female-only vaccination or universal vaccination is the most cost-effective intervention against HPV.

Methods: We present a dynamic Bayesian Markov model to investigate transmission dynamics in cohorts of females and males in a follow-up period of 55 years. We assumed that quadrivalent vaccination (against HPV 16, 18, 6, and 11) is available for 12-year-old individuals. The model accounts for the progression of subjects across HPV-induced health states (cervical, vaginal, vulvar, anal, penile, and head/neck cancer as well as anogenital warts). The sexual mixing is modeled on the basis of age-, sex-, and sexual behavioral-specific matrices to obtain the dynamic force of infection.

Results: In comparison to cervical cancer screening, universal vaccination results in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €1,500. When universal immunization is compared with female-only vaccination, it is cost-effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €11,600. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis shows a relatively large amount of parameter uncertainty, which interestingly has, however, no substantial impact on the decision-making process. The intervention being assessed seems to be associated with an attractive cost-effectiveness profile.

Conclusions: Universal HPV vaccination is found to be a cost-effective choice when compared with either cervical cancer screening or female-only vaccination within the Italian context.

Keywords: HPV; cost-effectiveness analysis; dynamic Bayesian model; herd immunity; vaccination programs.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Age Factors
Bayes Theorem
Child
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Early Detection of Cancer / economics*
Female
Genital Diseases, Female / economics
Genital Diseases, Female / prevention & control
Genital Diseases, Male / economics
Genital Diseases, Male / prevention & control
Head and Neck Neoplasms / economics
Head and Neck Neoplasms / prevention & control
Humans
Immunization Programs / economics
Italy
Male
Markov Chains
Models, Econometric
Papillomavirus Infections / prevention & control*
Papillomavirus Infections / transmission
Papillomavirus Vaccines / administration & dosage*
Papillomavirus Vaccines / economics*
Quality-Adjusted Life Years
Sex Factors
Sexual Behavior
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnosis*
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / economics

Substances

Papillomavirus Vaccines