title: [Cost-effectiveness of breast cancer screening policies in Mexico].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Generate cost-effectiveness information to allow policy makers optimize breast cancer (BC) policy in Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  We constructed a Markov model that incorporates four interrelated processes of the disease: the natural history; detection using mammography; treatment; and other competing-causes mortality, according to which 13 different strategies were modeled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Strategies (starting age, % of coverage, frequency in years)= (48, 25, 2), (40, 50, 2) and (40, 50, 1) constituted the optimal method for expanding the BC program, yielding 75.3, 116.4 and 171.1 thousand pesos per life-year saved, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The strategies included in the optimal method for expanding the program produce a cost per life-year saved of less than two times the GNP per capita and hence are cost-effective according to WHO Commission on Macroeconomics and Health criteria.
authors: Dirección de Economía de la Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública. avalencia@correo.insp.mx
authors: Atanacio
authors: A
authors: Valencia-Mendoza
authors: Gilberto
authors: G
authors: Sánchez-González
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Bautista-Arredondo
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Torres-Mejía
authors: Stefano M
authors: SM
authors: Bertozzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008390:Markov Chains; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics*; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged