Cost effectiveness analysis of different approaches of screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia

Objectives To assess the cost effectiveness of strategies to screen for and treat familial hypercholesterolaemia. Design Cost effectiveness analysis. A care pathway for each patient was delineated and the associated probabilities, benefits, and costs were calculated. Participants Simulated population aged 16-54 years in England and Wales. Interventions Identification and treatment of patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia by universal screening, opportunistic screening in primary care, screening of people admitted to hospital with premature myocardial infarction, or tracing family members of affected patients. Main outcome measure Cost effectiveness calculated as cost per life year gained (extension of life expectancy resulting from intervention) including estimated costs of screening and treatment. Results Tracing of family members was die most cost effective strategy (pound3097 ((sic)5066, $4479) per life year gained) as 2.6 individuals need to be screened to identify one case at a cost of pound133 per case detected. If the genetic mutation was known within the family their the cost per life year gained (pound4914) was only slightly increased by genetic confirmation of tire diagnosis. Universal population screening was least cost effective (pound13029 pet, life year gained) as 1365 individuals need to be screened at a cost of pound9754 per case detected. For each strategy it was more cost effective to screen younger people and women. Targeted strategies were more expensive per person screened, but the cost per case detected was lower. Population screening of 16 year olds only was as cost effective as family tracing (pound2777 with a clinical confirmation). Conclusions Screening family members of people with familial hypercholesterolaemia is the most cost effective option for detecting cases across the whole Population.