Health and economic impact associated with a quadrivalent HPV vaccine in Italy.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the health impact and cost-effectiveness of introducing a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme with a quadrivalent vaccine alongside the existing cervical cancer screening programme in comparison to the current context in Italy.


METHODS
A US Markov model was adapted to the Italian context, assuming under base case 80% vaccine coverage rate, lifetime duration of protection in a cohort of girls aged 12 years and discount rates of 1.5% and 3% for health benefits and costs, respectively, and estimating direct medical costs.


RESULTS
The HPV vaccination in association with the current screening programme would allow to avoid 1432 cases of cervical cancer (-63.3%) and 513 deaths (-63.4%) compared to screening only, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of 9569 euros per additional quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. The sensitivity analysis highlighted that this model was robust to all parameters presenting uncertainties as the ICERs ranged from 2,781 euros to 48,122 euros per QALY gained.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that HPV vaccination in adolescent girls would be a beneficial and cost-effective public health programme in Italy.
Mennini
F S
FS
Centre for Health Economics and Management (CHEM - CEIS Sanità), Faculty of Economics and Faculty of Science, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
Giorgi Rossi
P
P
Palazzo
F
F
Largeron
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008390:Markov Chains; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D055815:Young Adult
D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines