Can we increase efficiency of CT lung cancer screening by combining with CVD and COPD screening? Results of an early economic evaluation

Objectives Estimating the maximum acceptable cost (MAC) per screened individual for low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) lung cancer (LC) screening, and determining the effect of additionally screening for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), or both on the MAC. Methods A model-based early health technology assessment (HTA) was conducted to estimate whether a new intervention could be cost-effective by calculating the MAC at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) of €20k/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and €80k/QALY, for a population of current and former smokers, aged 50–75 years in The Netherlands. The MAC was estimated based on incremental QALYs gained from a stage shift assuming screened individuals are detected in earlier disease stages. Data were obtained from literature and publicly available statistics and validated with experts. Results The MAC per individual for implementing LC screening at a WTP of €20k/QALY was €113. If COPD, CVD, or both were included in screening, the MAC increased to €230, €895, or €971 respectively. Scenario analyses assessed whether screening-specific disease high-risk populations would improve cost-effectiveness, showing that high-risk CVD populations were more likely to improve economic viability compared to COPD. Conclusions The economic viability of combined screening is substantially larger than for LC screening alone, primarily due to benefits from CVD screening, and is dependent on the target screening population, which is key to optimise the screening program. The total cost of breast and cervical cancer screening is lower (€420) than the MAC of Big-3, indicating that Big-3 screening may be acceptable from a health economic perspective. Key Points • Once-off combined low-dose CT screening for lung cancer, COPD, and CVD in individuals aged 50–75 years is potentially cost-effective if screening would cost less than €971 per screened individual. • Multi-disease screening requires detailed insight into the co-occurrence of these diseases to identify the optimal target screening population. • With the same target screening population and WTP, lung cancer-only screening should cost less than €113 per screened individual to be cost-effective.

Association of Plasma Oligomerized Amyloid-β and Cerebral White Matter Lesions in a Health Screening Population

Background: Cerebral white matter lesions (WML) are related to a higher risk of vascular and Alzheimer’s dementia. Moreover, oligomerized amyloid-β (OAβ) can be measured from blood for dementia screening. Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship of plasma OAβ levels with clinical and radiological variables in a health screening population. Methods: WML, other volumetric parameters of magnetic resonance images, cognitive assessment, and plasma OAβ level were evaluated. Results: Ninety-two participants were analyzed. The majority of participants’ clinical dementia rating was 0 or 0.5 (96.7%). White matter hyperintensities (WMH) increased with age, but OAβ levels did not (r2 = 0.19, p < 0.001, r2 = 0.03, p = 0.10, respectively). No volumetric data, including cortical thickness/hippocampal volume, showed any significant correlation with OAβ. Log-WMH volume was positively correlated with OAβ (r = 0.24, p = 0.02), and this association was significant in the periventricular area. White matter signal abnormalities from 3D-T1 images were also correlated with the OAβ in the periventricular area (p = 0.039). Multivariate linear regression showed that log-WMH values were independently associated with OAβ (B = 0.879 (95% confidence interval 0.098 –1.660, p = 0.028)). Higher tertiles of WMH showed higher OAβ levels than lower tertiles showed (p = 0.044). Using a cutoff of 0.78 ng/mL, the high OAβ group had a larger WMH volume, especially in the periventricular area, than the low OAβ group (p = 0.036). Conclusion: Both WML and plasma OAβ levels can be early markers for neurodegeneration in the healthcare population. The lesions, especially in the periventricular area, might be related to amyloid pathogenesis, which strengthens the importance of WML in the predementia stage.

Five-year follow-up of new cases after a coeliac disease mass screening

ObjectiveWe previously performed a population-based mass screening of coeliac disease in children aged 12 years in two birth cohorts resulting in 296 seropositive children, of whom 242 were diagnosed with coeliac disease after duodenal biopsies. In this follow-up study, we wanted to identify new cases in the screening population that tested negative—either converting from potential coeliac disease (seropositive but normal duodenal mucosa) or converting from seronegative at screening to diagnosed coeliac disease.MethodsAll seropositive children were invited to a follow-up appointment 5 years after the screening with renewed serological testing and recommended endoscopic investigation if seropositive. Seronegative children in the screening study (n=12 353) were linked to the National Swedish Childhood Coeliac Disease Register to find cases diagnosed in healthcare during the same period.ResultsIn total, 230 (77%) came to the follow-up appointment, including 34 of 39 with potential coeliac disease. Of these, 11 (32%) had converted to coeliac disease. One new case was found in the National Swedish Childhood Coeliac Disease Register who received the diagnosis through routine screening in children with type 1 diabetes.ConclusionsThere is a high risk of conversion to coeliac disease among those with potential disease. However, a negative screening test was associated with a very low risk for a clinical diagnosis within a follow-up period of 5 years.

Association of Hepatic Steatosis Index with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Diagnosed by Non-Enhanced CT in a Screening Population

The noninvasive diagnosis of hepatic steatosis is of increasing concern. This study investigated the association of hepatic steatosis determined by non-enhanced CT criteria with clinical parameters in a screening population. Asymptomatic patients who underwent abdominal CT at our healthcare center were retrospectively analyzed (n = 339). Two radiologists measured the attenuation values of the liver parenchyma and spleen using non-enhanced CT images. CT criteria for hepatic steatosis were (a) absolute liver attenuation value <48 Hounsfield units (HU), (b) liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio <0.8, and (c) attenuation difference between the liver and spleen <−10. Body mass index (BMI) and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) were calculated, and laboratory findings were recorded. The association of hepatic steatosis with clinical parameters was assessed using univariate and logistic regression analyses. The presence of hepatic steatosis was significantly associated with the levels of serum fasting glucose and triglycerides, the alanine aminotransferase to aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) ratio, BMI, and HSI values using any of the CT criteria. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the serum fasting glucose level and HSI were significantly associated with hepatic steatosis using criterion (a), while the ALT/AST ratio and HSI were associated with hepatic steatosis using criteria (b) and (c). The presence of hepatic steatosis on non-enhanced CT should be considered to indicate possible clinical profile abnormalities regarding metabolic syndrome.