Authors' objectives: The objective of this Health Technology Assessment (HTA) was to assess whether breast reduction surgery in women with symptomatic breast hypertrophy and a BMI ≤ 35, is better than no surgery regarding mortality, health-related quality of life, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, sexuality-related outcomes, work ability, sick leave, physical function, pain, patient experience, and whether the surgery is safe to perform.

Authors' results and conclusions: In women with symptomatic breast hypertrophy, breast reduction surgery compared with no surgery, may result in clinically relevant improvement of HRQoL and sexualityrelated outcomes, and reduction of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and pain (GRADE ⊕⊕ ). It is uncertain whether physical function is affected (GRADE ⊕). Complications include a few serious complications, e.g. venous thromboembolism and infections, even though the most frequent complications are less severe. Reported thirty-day mortality was zero. There is a need for large well designed RCTs evaluating the long-term efficacy of breast reduction surgery in women with thoroughly defined symptomatic breast hypertrophy, as well as studies exploring women’s experience of having had the procedure.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2021

URL for published report: https://mellanarkiv-offentlig.vgregion.se/alfresco/s/archive/stream/public/v1/source/available/sofia/su4372-1728378332-394/native/2021_121%20HTA-rapport%20Br%c3%b6streduktion.pdf

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Full HTA

Organisation Name: The Regional Health Technology Assessment Centre

Contact Address: The Regional Health Technology Assessment Centre, Region Vastra Gotaland, HTA-centrum, Roda Straket 8, Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset, 413 45 GOTHENBORG, Sweden

Contact Name: hta-centrum@vgregion.se

Contact Email: hta-centrum@vgregion.se