Citation

Church J, Goodall S, Norman R, Haas M. N. S. W. Public Health Bull. 2011; 22(3-4): 60-68.

Affiliation

Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation, University of Technology, Sydney.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, New South Wales Health Department)

DOI

10.1071/NB10051

PMID

21632001

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of strategies designed to prevent falls amongst people aged 65 years and over living in the community and in residential aged-care facilities. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature was conducted. The pooled fall rate ratio was used in a decision analytic model that combined a Markov model and decision tree to estimate the costs and outcomes of potential interventions and/or strategies. The resulting cost per quality-adjusted life year was estimated. Results: The most cost-effective falls prevention strategy in community-dwelling older people was Tai Chi. Expedited cataract surgery and psychotropic medication withdrawal were also found to be cost-effective; however, the effectiveness of these interventions is less certain due to small numbers of trials and participants. The most cost-effective falls prevention strategies in residential aged-care facilities were medication review and vitamin D supplementation.

Language: en