Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34245652›Full record

Trial reportBJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology2021

The levonorgestrel intrauterine system versus endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

M J van den Brink, P Beelen, M C Herman, P M Geomini, J H Dekker, K M Vermeulen, M Y Bongers, M Y Berger

Open access · hybridAbstract readEquivalence TrialRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

M J van den Brink *Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-9805-5015
P Beelen *Department of General Practice, University of Maastricht, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
M C HermanDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
P M GeominiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
J H DekkerDepartment of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
K M VermeulenDepartment of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
M Y BongersDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Máxima Medical Centre, Veldhoven, The Netherlands.
M Y BergerDepartment of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, University of Groningen, University Medical Centre Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Radboud University Nijmegen · NLUniversity Medical Center Groningen · NLRakuten (Japan) · JP

Funding

ZonMw 171202001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate the costs and non-inferiority of a strategy starting with the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) compared with endometrial ablation (EA) in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).

designCost-effectiveness analysis from a societal perspective alongside a multicentre randomised non-inferiority trial.

settingGeneral practices and gynaecology departments in the Netherlands. POPULATION: In all, 270 women with HMB, aged ≥34 years old, without intracavitary pathology or wish for a future child.

methodsRandomisation to a strategy starting with the LNG-IUS (n = 132) or EA (n = 138). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was estimated.

main outcome measuresDirect medical costs and (in)direct non-medical costs were calculated. The primary outcome was menstrual blood loss after 24 months, measured with the mean Pictorial Blood Assessment Chart (PBAC)-score (non-inferiority margin 25 points). A secondary outcome was successful blood loss reduction (PBAC-score ≤75 points).

resultsTotal costs per patient were €2,285 in the LNG-IUS strategy and €3,465 in the EA strategy (difference: €1,180). At 24 months, mean PBAC-scores were 64.8 in the LNG-IUS group (n = 115) and 14.2 in the EA group (n = 132); difference 50.5 points (95% CI 4.3-96.7). In the LNG-IUS group, 87% of women had a PBAC-score ≤75 points versus 94% in the EA group (relative risk [RR] 0.93, 95% CI 0.85-1.01). The ICER was €23 (95% CI €5-111) per PBAC-point.

conclusionsA strategy starting with the LNG-IUS was cheaper than starting with EA, but non-inferiority could not be demonstrated. The LNG-IUS is reversible and less invasive and can be a cost-effective treatment option, depending on the success rate women are willing to accept. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding starting with LNG-IUS is cheaper but slightly less effective than endometrial ablation.

Indexed as

AdultCost-Benefit AnalysisEndometrial Ablation TechniquesFemaleHumansIntrauterine Devices, MedicatedLevonorgestrelMenorrhagiaNetherlandsTreatment OutcomeLevonorgestrelCost-effective analysiseconomic evaluationexcessive uterine bleedingintrauterine devicemenorrhagiamenstruationmirenanoninferiority trialnovasure

Identifiers

PMID34245652
PMCPMC8518490
OpenAlexW3178284383

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.