1998
Cost effectiveness of shortening screening interval or extending age range of NHS breast screening programme: computer simulation study
Publication
Publication
OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost effectiveness of two possible modifications
to the current UK screening programme: shortening the screening interval
from three to two years and extending the age of invitation to a final
screen from 64 to 69.
DESIGN: Computer simulation model which first
simulates life histories for women in the absence of a screening programme
for breast cancer and then assesses how these life histories would be
changed by introducing different screening policies. The model was
informed by screening and cost data from the NHS breast screening
programme.
SETTING: North West region of England.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of deaths prevented, life years gained, and costs.
RESULTS: Compared with the current breast screening programme both modifications
would increase the number of deaths prevented and the number of life years
saved. The current screening policy costs 2522 pounds per life year
gained; extending the age range of the programme would cost 2612 pounds
and shortening the interval 2709 pounds per life year gained. The marginal
cost per life year gained of extending the age range of the screening
programme is 2990 pounds and of shortening the screening interval is 3545
pounds.
CONCLUSIONS: If the budget for the NHS breast screening programme
were to allow for two more invitations per woman, substantial mortality
reductions would follow from extending the age range screened or reducing
the screening interval. The difference between the two policies is so
small that either could be chosen.
Additional Metadata | |
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hdl.handle.net/1765/8872 | |
B M J (Clinical Research Edition) | |
Organisation | Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam |
Boer, R., Threlfall, A., Warmerdam, P., Street, A., Friedman, E., Woodman, C., & de Koning, H. (1998). Cost effectiveness of shortening screening interval or extending age range of NHS breast screening programme: computer simulation study. B M J (Clinical Research Edition). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/8872 |