Cost-effectiveness analysis of human papillomavirus vaccination as part of cervical cancer screening in France

Introduction - The National Cancer Institute (INCa) sought to quantify the additional health benefits (precancerous lesions, cervical cancers, and deaths from cervical cancer prevented) in France from vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), in the context of the recent introduction of the nonavalent vaccine (Gardasil® 9) and the implementation of organized cervical cancer screening. Methods - The study is based on a microsimulation model that replicates the natural history of CC, generating a cohort of 14-year-old girls and tracking each of them until death. Other conditions linked to HPV infection (genital warts, anal cancers, penile cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer) are not modeled. Various strategies are compared to the current vaccination coverage (VC) rate of 21.4% (2017): the impact of increasing VC alone and the impact of increasing VC combined with correcting vaccination inequalities (assumption that women covered by the complementary universal health coverage (CMU-C) are vaccinated at the same rate as women not covered by CMU-C). A lifetime time horizon and a collective perspective (all payers) are used. The sensitivity analysis includes the duration of vaccine protection (20 years or lifetime), and the vaccine price (French price and average European prices) is evaluated and discussed. Results - All evaluated strategies are associated with a differential cost-outcome ratio (RDCR) of less than 15,000 euros per QALY (quality-adjusted life year). Compared to the current situation, an increase in vaccination coverage up to 85% with correction for inequalities would prevent, at a minimum, per annual cohort of 14-year-old girls: 2,546 conizations, 2,347 diagnosed CIN2/3 precancerous lesions, 377 cervical cancer cases, and 139 deaths from cervical cancer (20-year vaccine protection). Scenarios based on increasing vaccination coverage while correcting for inequalities are the most cost-effective. Conclusion - The study estimates the number of cases of precancerous lesions, cervical cancer, and deaths from cervical cancer that could be prevented by increasing vaccination coverage and quantifies the investments required to implement measures aimed at improving the efficiency of current strategies and addressing health inequalities (communication campaigns, initiatives targeting women covered by CMU-C).

Author(s): Rousseau Sophie, Massetti Marc, Barré Stéphanie, Leleu Henri, Gaillot-de Saintignon Julie

Publishing year: 2019

Pages: 457-465

Weekly Epidemiological Bulletin, 2019, n° 22-23, p. 457-465

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