Universal cervical length screening and treatment with vaginal progesterone to prevent preterm birth: a decision and economic analysis

Objective

The purpose of this study was to estimate which strategy is the most cost-effective for the prevention of preterm birth and associated morbidity.

Study Design

We used decision-analytic and cost-effectiveness analyses to estimate which of 4 strategies was superior based on quality-adjusted life-years, cost in US dollars, and number of preterm births prevented.

Results

Universal sonographic screening for cervical length and treatment with vaginal progesterone was the most cost-effective strategy and was the dominant choice over the 3 alternatives: cervical length screening for women at increased risk for preterm birth and treatment with vaginal progesterone; risk-based treatment with 17 α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate (17-OHP-C) without screening; no screening or treatment. Universal screening represented savings of $1339 ($8325 vs $9664), when compared with treatment with 17-OHP-C, and led to a reduction of 95,920 preterm births annually in the United States.

Conclusion

Universal sonographic screening for short cervical length and treatment with vaginal progesterone appears to be cost-effective and yields the greatest reduction in preterm birth at <34 weeks' gestation.

Key words: cervical length screening, preterm birth, prevention, progesterone