Impact of hirsutism on women's quality of life and their valuation of an effective treatment

SUMMARY

The aims of the study were to assess the impact on health-related quality of life in women with excess facial hair; to assess patients' valuation of treatment for excess facial hair using willingness-to-pay (WTP) and to assess the cost per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained from using an effective treatment for hirsutism. Questionnaires were sent to hirsute women, their partners and a sample of non-hirsute women to establish the basic characteristics and perceptions of each of the groups. Significant differences in health-related quality of life existed between hirsute and non-hirsute women. However, no significant differences between the groups' WTP for effective treatment were evident. Assuming an annual cost of £156 for a woman with facial hirsutism, the cost per QALY gained from the use of eflornithine cream for the treatment of hirsutism was considered to represent value for money even when a low estimate of effectiveness is used.

Key words: :

• hirsutism
• quality of life
• cost/QALY
• willingness-to-pay
• eflornithine Accepted for publication: 2nd March 2007