Is HPV Vaccination Cost-Effective for Women Older Than 30?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) screening, as part of cervical cancer cytological screening, has been directed toward women older than 30, because HPV infections that are detected in younger women often are transient and not destined to cause cancer. HPV vaccination of older women is a possible cervical cancer prevention strategy; researchers designed a simulated analysis of HPV vaccination in older women (age range, 30–45) to evaluate cost-effectiveness.

Adding vaccination to annual or biennial screening with cervical cytology plus HPV testing for equivocal cytology results would cost between US$116,950 and $272,350 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained, depending on age and screening frequency. Vaccination was less cost-effective in simu…