Cost-effectiveness of population screening for atrial fibrillation: the STROKESTOP study.

Aims: Previous studies on the cost-effectiveness of screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) are based on assumptions of long-term clinical effects. The STROKESTOP study, which randomised 27 975 persons aged 75/76 years into a screening invitation group and a control group, has a median follow-up time of 6.9 years.

Cost-effectiveness of screening for atrial fibrillation in a single primary care center at a 3-year follow-up.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of intermittent electrocardiogram (ECG) screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) among 70-74-year old individuals in primary care. We also aimed to assess adherence to anticoagulants, severe bleeding, stroke and mortality among screening-detected AF cases at three-year follow-up.

Methods: A post hoc analysis based on a cross-sectional screening study for AF among 70-74-year old patients, who were registered at a single primary care center, was followed for three years for mortality.

Long-term QALY-weights among spouses of dependent and independent midlife stroke survivors.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate whether the dependency of midlife stroke survivors had any long-term impact on their spouses' QALY-weights.

Method: Data on stroke survivors, controls, and spouses were collected from the 7-year follow-up of the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on Ischemic Stroke. Health-related quality of life was assessed by the SF-36, and the preference-based health state values were assessed with the SF-6D.

Designing an optimal screening program for unknown atrial fibrillation: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Aims: The primary objective of this study was to use computer simulations to suggest an optimal age for initiation of screening for unknown atrial fibrillation and to evaluate if repeated screening will add value.

Methods And Results: In the absence of relevant clinical studies, this analysis was based on a simulation model. More than two billion different designs of screening programs for unknown atrial fibrillation were simulated and analysed.

Cost-effectiveness of endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adding endovascular thrombectomy to standard care in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: The cost-effectiveness analysis of endovascular thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke was based on a decision-analytic Markov model. Primary outcomes from ESCAPE, Extending the Time for Thrombolysis in Emergency Neurological Deficits-Intra-Arterial (EXTEND-IA), Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial of Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Netherlands (MR CLEAN), Endovascular Revascularization With Solitaire Device Versus Best Medical Therapy in Anterior Circulation Stroke Within 8 Hours (REVASCAT), and Solitaire with the Intention for Thrombectomy as Primary Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke (SWIFT PRIME) along with data from published studies and registries were used in this analysis.

Differences between hypothetical and experience-based value sets for EQ-5D used in Sweden: Implications for decision makers.

Aims: A number of value sets are available today for converting EQ-5D questionnaire responses to quality-adjusted life year-weights used in health economic evaluations. The aim of this study is to analyse the differences between the commonly used hypothetical UK value set and the newly introduced Swedish experience-based value set and to evaluate health economic implications of such differences on policy decisions.

Methods: Differences between the two value sets were studied using two methods: a comparison of health states and improvements as well as an empirical comparison.

Cost-effectiveness of mass screening for untreated atrial fibrillation using intermittent ECG recording.

Aims: The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of 2 weeks of intermittent screening for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) in 75/76-year-old individuals.

Methods And Results: The cost-effectiveness analysis of screening in 75-year-old individuals was based on a lifelong decision analytic Markov model. In this model, 1000 hypothetical individuals, who matched the population of the STROKESTOP study, were simulated.