PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Sanghera, Sabina
AU  - Barton, Pelham
AU  - Bhattacharya, Siladitya
AU  - Horne, Andrew W
AU  - Roberts, Tracy Elizabeth
TI  - Pharmaceutical treatments to prevent recurrence of endometriosis following surgery: a model-based economic evaluation
AID  - 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-010580
DP  - 2016 Apr 01
TA  - BMJ Open
PG  - e010580
VI  - 6
IP  - 4
4099  - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/4/e010580.short
4100  - http://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/6/4/e010580.full
SO  - BMJ Open2016 Apr 01; 6
AB  - Objective Conduct an economic evaluation based on best currently available evidence comparing alternative treatments levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate, combined oral contraceptive pill (COCP) and ‘no treatment’ to prevent recurrence of endometriosis after conservative surgery in primary care, and to inform the design of a planned trial-based economic evaluation.Methods We developed a state transition (Markov) model with a 36-month follow-up. The model structure was informed by a pragmatic review and clinical experts. The economic evaluation adopted a UK National Health Service perspective and was based on an outcome of incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). As available data were limited, intentionally wide distributions were assigned around model inputs, and the average costs and outcome of the probabilistic sensitivity analyses were reported.Results On average, all strategies were more expensive and generated fewer QALYs compared to no treatment. However, uncertainty attributing to the transition probabilities affected the results. Inputs relating to effectiveness, changes in treatment and the time at which the change is made were the main causes of uncertainty, illustrating areas where robust and specific data collection is required.Conclusions There is currently no evidence to support any treatment being recommended to prevent the recurrence of endometriosis following conservative surgery. The study highlights the importance of developing decision models at the outset of a trial to identify data requirements to conduct a robust post-trial analysis.