The studies retrieved by the literature search were used to arrive at valid estimations

of the following parameters, which were needed as an input to the model: Relationship between calcium intake by dairy foods and osteoporotic fractures indicated by relative risk estimates or odds ratios. Costs of treating fractures in the first year and in subsequent years. Mortality risk associated with osteoporotic fractures. Health-related quality of life (‘utilities’) of healthy people and of people who are experiencing an osteoporotic fracture; studies had to use generic (not disease specific), preference based instrument to come to a utility. The way how the above mentioned selleck compound https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ferrostatin-1-fer-1.html parameters were retrieved or calculated in each study was critically judged. Studies that divided their results in age classes were preferred. Studies that evaluated the effects of a specific treatment modality (in a subgroup of patients), rather than including a ‘broad’ population sample of patients with fractures, were excluded. We derived data from national databases for

each country, i.e. Statistics Netherlands (CBS; www.​cbs.​nl), National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE; www.​insee.​fr), and Statistics Sweden (SCB; www.​scb.​se). For The Netherlands, we also used results of the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey [29]. The data needed to build our nutrition economic model can be found in the flow diagram presented in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 Flow diagram of the nutrition-economic model for hip fracture as outcome of osteoporosis Study population and countries The populations of interest were men and women (of any ethnicity) from the general population of Western Europe aged 50 years and over. This includes individuals treated and not treated for osteoporosis. We specifically looked for data that divided the (general) population by sex and 5-year age classes. Health-economic studies should take into account

differences between countries. In this case, it can be expected that dairy intakes may differ considerably between different regions in Europe [3]. Moreover, other differences between the populations Selleckchem Rucaparib of several countries may affect the occurrence of osteoporosis, such as lifestyle, the availability and quality of healthcare, climate, genetic predisposition, etc. Furthermore, treatment pathways, costs of healthcare, and cost prices of dairy food products will differ. To get insight in country differences we will present the model outcomes for The Netherlands, Sweden, and France, a choice based on different dairy intakes and on the availability of country specific public health data and nutritional surveys.