[Sexual hormone and traditional Chinese patent medicine for early postmenopausal women: effect on quality of life and cost-utility analysis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of Premarin and Kuntai capsule (a traditional Chinese patent medicine) on the quality of life (QOL) and their cost-utility in early postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Fifty-seven women with menopausal syndrome in the early postmenopausal stage were randomly allocated into Premarin group (0.3 mg/day and 0.6 mg/day alternately, n=29) and Kuntai group (4 g/day, n=28). The therapies lasted for one year and the patients were followed up every 3 months. The QOL of the patients was evaluated and the utility scores were obtained from rating scale to conduct a cost-utility analysis (CUA).


RESULTS
At each follow-up examination, no significant difference was found in the QOL between the two groups (P>0.05). The QOL obviously increased after the 1-year-long therapy in both the groups, and Kuntai required longer treatment time than Premarin to take effect. The cost-utility ratio of Premarin and Kuntai were 13581.45 yuan/QALY (quality adjusted life year) and 25105.12 yuan/QALY, respectively. Both incremental cost analysis and sensitivity analysis showed that Kuntai was more costly than Premarin. The result of per-protocol analysis was consistent with that of intention-to-treat analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
At early stage of menopause, the QOL of women with menopausal syndrome can be significantly improved by low-dose Premarin and Kuntai capsule, but the latter is more costly.
Zhou
Ling-Ling
LL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China. zhoulingling2004@163.com
Xu
Liang-Zhi
LZ
Liu
Hong-Wei
HW
Zhang
Jing
J
Liu
Ying
Y
Liu
Xiao-Fang
XF
Tang
Liu-Lin
LL
Zhuang
Jing
J
Liu
Xiao-Xian
XX
Qiao
Lin
L
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008517:Phytotherapy; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects*; D011788:Quality of Life
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D004966:Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)