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The Value of a New Diagnostic Test for Prostate Cancer : A Cost-Utility Analysis in Early Stage of Development

Fridhammar, Adam ; Axelsson, Ulrika LU orcid ; Persson, Ulf ; Bjartell, Anders LU and Borrebaeck, Carl A.K. LU (2021) In PharmacoEconomics - Open 5(1). p.77-88
Abstract

Background: Standard biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis is an unpleasant and sometimes painful procedure with a detection rate as low as around 50%. Consequently, an accurate blood-based test would be highly desirable to improve the predictive accuracy. However, the clinical value of a new blood test for diagnosing prostate cancer depends on its sensitivity and specificity, in relation to the selected target population. Objective: The aim of this analysis was to investigate the health-economic value of introducing a new and more accurate diagnostic blood-based test to identify men in need of a biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer. Method: We developed a Discrete Event Simulation Model with outputs including number of biopsies, cancer... (More)

Background: Standard biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis is an unpleasant and sometimes painful procedure with a detection rate as low as around 50%. Consequently, an accurate blood-based test would be highly desirable to improve the predictive accuracy. However, the clinical value of a new blood test for diagnosing prostate cancer depends on its sensitivity and specificity, in relation to the selected target population. Objective: The aim of this analysis was to investigate the health-economic value of introducing a new and more accurate diagnostic blood-based test to identify men in need of a biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer. Method: We developed a Discrete Event Simulation Model with outputs including number of biopsies, cancer diagnosis, treatments and prostate cancer deaths. The analysis was performed from a health care perspective. It used epidemiologic data, treatment patterns, and health care costs from the Swedish region Skåne (population of 1.3 million). A 90% sensitivity and specificity of the new test was assumed. Results: Among 31,250 men, age 50–69 years, 16.4% had a PSA between 3.0 and 9.9 µg/L and 28.9% a PSA of 2.0–9.9 µg/L. Testing men with PSA 3.0–9.9 µg/L, as in current clinical practice, decreased the number of biopsies by 3595, detected 61 more cancers, resulting in and two more fatalities and subsequently a loss of 14 QALYs. Cost offsets could justify a test value of SEK 4996. Testing a larger population, PSA 2.0–9.9 µg/L prevented 6 deaths, added 50 QALYs, and could justify a value of the test of SEK 5165, given a value of health of SEK 500,000 per QALY. Conclusion: A new blood-based test for prostate cancer has a significant potential to reduce the number of biopsies needed, resulting in reduced health care costs and improve patient care.

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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
PharmacoEconomics - Open
volume
5
issue
1
pages
12 pages
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • pmid:32780268
  • scopus:85102356942
ISSN
2509-4262
DOI
10.1007/s41669-020-00226-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b77d8954-ef02-4215-8e38-8cd893533983
date added to LUP
2021-12-17 13:59:20
date last changed
2024-06-15 22:54:29
@article{b77d8954-ef02-4215-8e38-8cd893533983,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Standard biopsy for prostate cancer diagnosis is an unpleasant and sometimes painful procedure with a detection rate as low as around 50%. Consequently, an accurate blood-based test would be highly desirable to improve the predictive accuracy. However, the clinical value of a new blood test for diagnosing prostate cancer depends on its sensitivity and specificity, in relation to the selected target population. Objective: The aim of this analysis was to investigate the health-economic value of introducing a new and more accurate diagnostic blood-based test to identify men in need of a biopsy to diagnose prostate cancer. Method: We developed a Discrete Event Simulation Model with outputs including number of biopsies, cancer diagnosis, treatments and prostate cancer deaths. The analysis was performed from a health care perspective. It used epidemiologic data, treatment patterns, and health care costs from the Swedish region Skåne (population of 1.3 million). A 90% sensitivity and specificity of the new test was assumed. Results: Among 31,250 men, age 50–69 years, 16.4% had a PSA between 3.0 and 9.9 µg/L and 28.9% a PSA of 2.0–9.9 µg/L. Testing men with PSA 3.0–9.9 µg/L, as in current clinical practice, decreased the number of biopsies by 3595, detected 61 more cancers, resulting in and two more fatalities and subsequently a loss of 14 QALYs. Cost offsets could justify a test value of SEK 4996. Testing a larger population, PSA 2.0–9.9 µg/L prevented 6 deaths, added 50 QALYs, and could justify a value of the test of SEK 5165, given a value of health of SEK 500,000 per QALY. Conclusion: A new blood-based test for prostate cancer has a significant potential to reduce the number of biopsies needed, resulting in reduced health care costs and improve patient care.</p>}},
  author       = {{Fridhammar, Adam and Axelsson, Ulrika and Persson, Ulf and Bjartell, Anders and Borrebaeck, Carl A.K.}},
  issn         = {{2509-4262}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{77--88}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{PharmacoEconomics - Open}},
  title        = {{The Value of a New Diagnostic Test for Prostate Cancer : A Cost-Utility Analysis in Early Stage of Development}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s41669-020-00226-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s41669-020-00226-7}},
  volume       = {{5}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}