Health-Economic Evaluation of the German Osteoporotic Fracture Prevention Program in Rural Areas (OFRA): Mobility and Falls Prevention Classes, Examination of Bone Health, and Consultation on Safety in the Living Environment

Abstract

Background Fragility fractures are one of the leading causes of disability in older adults. Yet, evidence for effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of preventive approaches combining bone health and fall prevention is rare. Objective To conduct a health-economic evaluation of the German osteoporotic fracture prevention program in rural areas (OFRA). Design Secondary cluster–randomized intervention study based on routine data. Participants All districts in five federal states in Germany were cluster-randomized as intervention or control districts. OFRA was offered to community-living (a) women aged 75–79 years or (b) women and men aged 70–84 years with a prior fragility fracture in the intervention districts. Individuals who meet these criteria in the control districts were assigned to the control group. Intervention OFRA comprised mobility and falls prevention classes, examination of bone health by bone density measurement, and consultation on safety in the home living environment. Main Measures We measured health-care costs and effectiveness in terms of time to fragility fracture or death within 1 year after initial contact, based on health insurance claims data. Implementation costs were recorded by the intervention performers. We calculated an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and employed the net-benefit approach to construct a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve (CEAC). Key Results There were 9408 individuals in the intervention group and 27,318 in the control group. Mean time to fragility fracture or death (difference: 0.82 days) and health-care costs (difference: 111.73€, p < .01) were reduced, but mean intervention costs (difference: 260.10€) increased total costs (difference: 148.37€, p < .001) in the intervention group. The ICER per fracture-free year of survival was 66,094.63€. The CEAC showed no acceptable probability of cost-effectiveness at a reasonable willingness to pay. Conclusion OFRA showed reduced rates of fragility fractures, but had high implementation costs, resulting in an unfavorable ICER. The cost-effectiveness of OFRA may improve with a longer follow-up.