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    Ann Intern Med. 2010 Mar 2;152(5):276-86. doi: 10.1059/0003-4819-152-5-201003020-00005.

    Cost-effectiveness of preparticipation screening for prevention of sudden cardiac death in young athletes.

    Source

    Stanford University, California 94305, USA.

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND:

    Inclusion of 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) in preparticipation screening of young athletes is controversial because of concerns about cost-effectiveness.

    OBJECTIVE:

    To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ECG plus cardiovascular-focused history and physical examination compared with cardiovascular-focused history and physical examination alone for preparticipation screening.

    DESIGN:

    Decision-analysis, cost-effectiveness model.

    DATA SOURCES:

    Published epidemiologic and preparticipation screening data, vital statistics, and other publicly available data.

    TARGET POPULATION:

    Competitive athletes in high school and college aged 14 to 22 years.

    TIME HORIZON:

    Lifetime.

    PERSPECTIVE:

    Societal.

    INTERVENTION:

    Nonparticipation in competitive athletic activity and disease-specific treatment for identified athletes with heart disease.

    OUTCOME MEASURE:

    Incremental health care cost per life-year gained.

    RESULTS OF BASE-CASE ANALYSIS:

    Addition of ECG to preparticipation screening saves 2.06 life-years per 1000 athletes at an incremental total cost of $89 per athlete and yields a cost-effectiveness ratio of $42 900 per life-year saved (95% CI, $21 200 to $71 300 per life-year saved) compared with cardiovascular-focused history and physical examination alone. Compared with no screening, ECG plus cardiovascular-focused history and physical examination saves 2.6 life-years per 1000 athletes screened and costs $199 per athlete, yielding a cost-effectiveness ratio of $76 100 per life-year saved ($62 400 to $130 000).

    RESULTS OF SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS:

    Results are sensitive to the relative risk reduction associated with nonparticipation and the cost of initial screening.

    LIMITATIONS:

    Effectiveness data are derived from 1 major European study. Patterns of causes of sudden death may vary among countries.

    CONCLUSION:

    Screening young athletes with 12-lead ECG plus cardiovascular-focused history and physical examination may be cost-effective.

    PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE:

    Stanford Cardiovascular Institute and the Breetwor Foundation.

    Comment in

    PMID:
    20194233
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    PMCID:
    PMC2873148
    Free PMC Article

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