title: Cost-effectiveness of varenicline compared with nicotine patches for smoking cessation--results from four European countries.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the cost-effectiveness of varenicline with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation in four European countries (Belgium, France, Sweden and the UK).
  
  
  METHODS
  Markov simulations, using the Benefits of Smoking Cessation on Outcomes (BENESCO) model, were performed. We simulated the incidence of four smoking-related morbidities: lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease and stroke. The model computes quality-adjusted life-years gained and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Incremental cost-utility ratios were calculated, adopting a lifetime perspective. Efficacy data were obtained from a randomized open-label trial: Week 52 continuous abstinence rates were 26.1% for varenicline and 20.3% for NRT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analyses imply that for countries analysed, smoking cessation using varenicline versus NRT was associated with reduced smoking-related morbidity and mortality. The number of morbidities avoided, per 1000 smokers attempting to quit, ranged from 9.7 in Belgium to 6.5 in the UK. The number of quality-adjusted life-years gained, per 1000 smokers, was 23 (Belgium); 19.5 (France); 29.9 (Sweden); and 23.7 (UK). In all base-case simulations (except France), varenicline dominated (more effective and cost saving) NRT regarding costs per quality-adjusted life-year gained; for France the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 2803.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated that since varenicline treatment was more effective, the result was increased healthcare cost savings in Belgium, Sweden and the UK. Our results suggest that funding varenicline as a smoking cessation aid is justifiable from a healthcare resource allocation perspective.
authors.affiliation: Lund University Department of Economics and Centre for Health Economics, Lund, Sweden. kristian.bolin@nek.lu.se
authors.forename: Kristian
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bolin
authors.forename: Koo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Hicham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Benhaddi
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Nigris
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marbaix
authors.forename: Ann-Christin
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mork
authors.forename: Henri-Jean
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Aubin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008390:Markov Chains; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists / Q000191:economics*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000191:economics*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology; D000068580:Varenicline; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D018722:Nicotinic Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D009538:Nicotine; D000068580:Varenicline