The application of health technology assessment in osteoporosis

Because of the high costs to patients, health care payers and to society, it is important to allocate healthcare resources appropriately and efficiently. Health technology assessment aims to evaluate the clinical, economic, social, and ethical implications of a disease, and its prevention and treatment to guide national healthcare policies (e.g. clinical and research investment, reimbursement decisions). In this chapter, we review the various aspects of health technology assessment in osteoporosis, including epidemiology and burden of disease, and assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the treatment of osteoporosis and the prevention of fracture. Health technology assessment indicates an immense burden of osteoporotic fractures for patients and society that is set to increase as the number of elderly people increases. Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis have been shown to be a cost-effective way of allocating scarce healthcare resources.