Abstracts by keywords: QALYs
The high treatment costs of tobacco-related diseases and the immense economic damage caused by smoking will exacerbate the financing problems of social systems in the future. One approach to addressing this problem is to reduce the prevalence of smoking through evidence-based tobacco cessation measures such as nicotine replacement therapy (NET). In some European countries, particularly Great Britain, these findings have given nicotine replacement therapy an important role in public health programs. The therapeutic effectiveness and the achievable health economic effects make NET a dominant strategy for smoking cessation in this country too. The latest study results based on data from the German health system show that, particularly for smokers with previous illnesses, the financial resources for NET are not only used cost-effectively, but are even overcompensated by avoided health care costs. For Germany, the study results presented and the international experience provide reason to reposition nicotine replacement therapy with regard to the degree of use and integration into the healthcare system.