Atrial Fibrillation Screening in the Elderly: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis for Public Health Policy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) screening identifies undiagnosed patients who can benefit from anticoagulant therapy, thereby reducing the risk of ischemic stroke. However, the long-term outcomes and costs related to population screening for this purpose in the Asian elderly remain unknown.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of population screening for AF in the elderly in Taiwan and explore the optimal screening strategy from the health care sector's perspective.

Methods

Using a Markov decision-analytic model, we simulated lifetime outcomes and costs of AF screening in a cohort of 10,000 individuals aged 75. Comparative analyses with a nonscreening approach assessed prevented ischemic strokes, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), costs

SUBMITTER: Fu YH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11782098 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature