The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology
Volume 16, Issue 1 , Pages 40-46, January 2009

Rate, Type, and Cost of Invasive Interventions for Uterine Myomas in Germany, France, and England

  • Herve Fernandez, MD

      Affiliations

    • University Paris-Sud, Clamart, France
    • ,
  • Martin Farrugia, MD, MRCOG

      Affiliations

    • East Kent Hospitals National Health Service Trust, London, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Siân E. Jones, FRCOG

      Affiliations

    • Bradford Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Foundation Trust, Bradford, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom
    • ,
  • Josephine A. Mauskopf, PhD

      Affiliations

    • RTI Health Solutions, RTI International, Durham, North Carolina
    • ,
  • Peter Oppelt, MD, MBA

      Affiliations

    • Frauenklinik Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Germany
    • ,
  • Dhinagar Subramanian, MD, MBA

      Affiliations

    • European Health Economics, Ethicon, Livingston, United Kingdom
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: Dhinagar Subramanian, MD, MBA, European Health Economics, Ethicon, Livingston EH54 7AT, United Kingdom.

Received 15 May 2008; accepted 6 September 2008. published online 10 November 2008.

Abstract 

Study Objective

The objective of our study was to quantify the rate, type, and cost of interventions for uterine myomas to payers in Germany, France, and England.

Design

Computations using data from national hospital activity databases. Design classification: II-3.

Setting

Hospital admissions in Germany, France, and England.

Patients

Women admitted for a surgical or radiologic intervention for uterine myomas.

Interventions

Surgical or radiologic interventions for uterine myomas.

Measurements and Main Results

We identified the number and type of hospital admissions involving surgical or radiologic interventions for uterine myomas, through the analysis of national hospital activity databases from each country. We calculated the costs of these hospitalizations to payers in these countries using the diagnosis-related group reimbursement rates. In 2005, the number (rate) of hospital admissions involving interventions for uterine myomas was 64 299 (1.53/1000 women) in Germany, 37 787 (1.17/1000 women) in France, and 18 274 (0.71/1000 women) in England. The annual costs of these interventions to payers were €212 313 090 in Germany, €73 278 270 in France (excluding surgeon and anesthetist fees for interventions in the private sector), and €52 674 672 in England. The percentage of interventions for uterine myomas that included a hysterectomy was 84.9% in Germany, 59.7% in France, and 64.1% in England.

Conclusion

The number of admissions and costs associated with interventions for uterine myomas are substantial in the 3 European countries studied. Hysterectomy is the most frequent surgical intervention used to treat uterine myomas. The results in this article provide useful information for policy makers wishing to evaluate the cost effectiveness and budget impact of new, less invasive interventions.

Keywords: Myoma, Cost, Europe, Fibroids, Burden, Treatment pattern

 

 Funding for this study was provided by Ethicon. Drs. Fernandez and Farrugia act as paid consultants for Ethicon Women's Health and Urology. Drs. Jones and Oppelt are investigators in the Doppler-guided Uterine Artery Occlusion Study sponsored by Ethicon. They hold no stock in the company and have no financial interest in any of the company's products. Dr. Mauskopf has acted as a paid consultant for Johnson & Johnson and for many other pharmaceutical and medical device companies. She worked with Ethicon under a contract to prepare this manuscript. She holds no stock in any of the companies and has no financial interest in their products. Dr. Subramanian currently is an employee of Ethicon.

PII: S1553-4650(08)00977-1

doi:10.1016/j.jmig.2008.09.581

The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology
Volume 16, Issue 1 , Pages 40-46, January 2009

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