Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in American men, and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing is its common screening procedure.
In May 2012, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended against PSA-based screening. These recommendations contradict the current recommendations of other organizations such as the American Urological Association. The authors conducted a systematic review of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane to examine the published literature reporting the cost-effectiveness of PSA-based screening. The authors found ten studies each for US and non-US jurisdiction population. All reviewed studies concluded PSA-based screening to be cost effective in younger men (≤ 60 years of age) and at higher PSA levels (≥3 ng/ml). Further cost-effectiveness analyses reflecting latest clinical practice and current perspectives regarding adverse outcomes of potentially unnecessary treatment are required, especially from the US government perspective.
Written by:
Garg V, Gu NY, Borrego ME, Raisch DW. Are you the author?
Pharmacoeconomics, Epidemiology, Pharmaceutical Policy and Outcomes Research (PEPPOR) Program, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Reference: Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res. 2013 Jun;13(3):327-42.
doi: 10.1586/erp.13.26
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23763530
UroToday.com Prostate Cancer Section
