Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Varenicline Versus Existing Smoking Cessation Strategies in Central America and the Caribbean Using the BENESCO Model

AbstractObjectives: In Central American countries, the economic burden of tobacco has not been assessed. In Costa Rica, a study demonstrated that tobacco-related diseases represent high costs for the health care system. The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of varenicline compared with other existing strategies for smoking cessation within a 10-year time horizon in an adult population cohort from Central American and Caribbean countries using the health care payer's perspective. Methods: The Benefits of Smoking Cessation on Outcomes simulation model was used for an adult cohort in Costa Rica (n = 2 474 029), Panama (n = 2 249 676), Nicaragua (n = 3 639 948), El Salvador (n = 4 537 803), and the Dominican Republic (n = 6 528 125) (N = 19 429 581). Smoking cessation therapies compared were varenicline (0.5–2 mg/day) versus bupropion (300 mg/day), nicotine replacement therapy (5–15 mg/day), and unaided cessation. Effectiveness measures were: life-years (LYs) gained and quality-adjusted l...