Modelling cost-effectiveness in osteoporosis: We thank Dr. Stevenson for raising several important issues. Matt Stevenson, who developed the model used by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), is correct in stating that the model he used took account of deaths occurring after 10 years. The limitations of using a 10-year time horizon were illustrated using death by way of an example. Whereas deaths after 10 years were ‘bolted’ onto the NICE model, none of the other consequences of fracture was included. Our own sensitivity analyses and previous observations [1] attest to a very large effect of restricting the time horizon. It is important, therefore, to determine the sensitivity of the NICE model to changes in the time horizon. (...)

DOI:10.1016/j.bone.2008.02.012