Evidence map›Paper›PMID 19017393›Full record

ArticleBMC cardiovascular disorders2008

Is population screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm cost-effective?

Lars Ehlers, Jan Sørensen, Lotte Groth Jensen, Merete Bech, Mette Kjølby

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC cardiovascular disorders, 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Recommendations on screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm in primary care.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2017
    Guideline
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Letter to Editor.Medicine, health care, and philosophy · 2020
    Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Lars EhlersInstitute of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark. lars.ehlers@stab.rm.dk
Jan Sørensen
Lotte Groth Jensen
Merete Bech
Mette Kjølby

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRuptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is responsible for 1-2% of all male deaths over the age of 65 years. Early detection of AAA and elective surgery can reduce the mortality risk associated with AAA. However, many patients will not be diagnosed with AAA and have therefore an increased death risk due to the untreated AAA. It has been suggested that population screening for AAA in elderly males is effective and cost-effective. The purpose of this study was to perform a systematic review of published cost-effectiveness analyses of screening elderly men for AAA.

methodsWe performed a systematic search for economic evaluations in NHSEED, EconLit, Medline, Cochrane, Embase, Cinahl and two Scandinavian HTA data bases (DACEHTA and SBU). All identified studies were read in full and each study was systematically assessed according to international guidelines for critical assessment of economic evaluations in health care.

resultsThe search identified 16 cost-effectiveness studies. Most studies considered only short term cost consequences. The studies seemed to employ a number of "optimistic" assumptions in favour of AAA screening, and included only few sensitivity analyses that assessed less optimistic assumptions.

conclusionFurther analyses of cost-effectiveness of AAA screening are recommended.

Indexed as

Cost-Benefit AnalysisAgedAged, 80 and overAortic Aneurysm, AbdominalAortic RuptureDecision Making, Computer-AssistedFemaleHospital CostsHumansMaleMass ScreeningMiddle AgedQuality of LifeSmoking CessationUltrasonography

Identifiers

PMID19017393
PMCPMC2607250

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.