BACKGROUND: Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease worldwide, causing immense health and economic burdens. In Argentina, 26.1% of men and 18.6% of women smoke, leading to 44.851 deaths annually, alongside over 68.000 hospitalizations and 20.620 cancer diagnoses attributed to tobacco use. These figures underscore the urgent need for effective smoking cessation interventions. Pharmacological treatments for smoking cessation (TFCT), such as nicotine replacement therapies (NRT), bupropion, varenicline, and nortriptyline, offer a proven means to reduce tobacco use and its associated health impacts. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of TFCT options to support their broader integration into Argentina’s public health system.
METHODS: A first-order Monte Carlo microsimulation model, validated in multiple international contexts, was tailored to the Argentine healthcare system. The model incorporated demographic and clinical data, including smoking prevalence, disease incidence, mortality rates, and direct healthcare costs linked to smoking-related illnesses. TFCT options were compared against usual care in terms of outcomes such as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), and healthcare savings. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of results across various scenarios and age groups.
RESULTS: Preliminary findings demonstrate that all pharmacological treatments significantly improve health outcomes compared to usual care, with varenicline and bupropion achieving the most substantial gains in QALYs and cost-effectiveness across most scenarios. Age-based variations were notable, as younger individuals showed greater relative benefits due to longer life expectancies. These interventions not only reduce the burden of diseases like cardiovascular conditions, cancer, and COPD but also generate substantial cost savings for the healthcare system.
CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacological smoking cessation therapies are cost-effective in Argentina, offering considerable health and economic benefits. Policymakers should prioritize the integration of these interventions into public health strategies, ensuring accessibility to reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality.