Cost-effectiveness of Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Combination with Medical Intervention in Patients with Small Aneurysms

Zarrouk M, Lundqvist A, Holst J, Troëng T & Gottsäter A

IHE has, in collaboration with Lund University, conducted a study of the cost-effectiveness of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) in combination with medical intervention in patients with small aneurysms.

Screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has previously been found cost-effective, but is nowadays conducted partly under new conditions. The prevalence of AAA has decreased, and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) has become the predominant surgical method for AAA repair in many centers. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of AAA screening under the new conditions.

The health economic analysis used a Markov cohort model of 65 year old men attending screening for AAA. The study found that AAA screening remains cost-effective in the new era of lower AAA prevalence, EVAR as the predominant surgical method, and secondary prevention for all AAA patients.

Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2016; 51(6): 766-773
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejvs.2015.12.048