AIM: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of strategies designed to prevent falls amongst people aged 65 years and over living in the community and in residential aged-care facilities. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was conducted. The pooled fall rate ratio was used in a decision analytic model that combined a Markov model and decision tree to estimate the costs and outcomes of potential interventions and/or strategies. The resulting cost per quality-adjusted life year was estimated. RESULTS: The most cost-effective falls prevention strategy in community-dwelling older people was Tai Chi. Expedited cataract surgery and psychotropic medication withdrawal were also found to be cost-effective; however, the effectiveness of these interventions is less certain due to small numbers of trials and participants. The most cost-effective falls prevention strategies in residential aged-care facilities were medication review and vitamin D supplementation.
AIM: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of strategies designed to prevent falls amongst people aged 65 years and over living in the community and in residential aged-care facilities. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was conducted. The pooled fall rate ratio was used in a decision analytic model that combined a Markov model and decision tree to estimate the costs and outcomes of potential interventions and/or strategies. The resulting cost per quality-adjusted life year was estimated. RESULTS: The most cost-effective falls prevention strategy in community-dwelling older people was Tai Chi. Expedited cataract surgery and psychotropic medication withdrawal were also found to be cost-effective; however, the effectiveness of these interventions is less certain due to small numbers of trials and participants. The most cost-effective falls prevention strategies in residential aged-care facilities were medication review and vitamin D supplementation.
Authors: Daniel Prieto-Alhambra; Xavier Nogues; M Kassim Javaid; Allison Wyman; Nigel K Arden; Rafael Azagra; Cyrus Cooper; Jonathan D Adachi; Steven Boonen; Roland D Chapurlat; Juliet E Compston; Stephen H Gehlbach; Susan L Greenspan; Frederick H Hooven; J Coen Netelenbos; Johannes Pfeilschifter; Maurizio Rossini; Philip N Sambrook; Stuart Silverman; Ethel S Siris; Nelson B Watts; Adolfo Díez-Pérez Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2012-06-23 Impact factor: 19.103