Cost-effectiveness analysis of artificial intelligence-aided colonoscopy for adenoma detection and characterization in Spain.

Background and study aims: The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of an intelligent endoscopy module for computer-assisted detection and characterization (CADe/CADx) compared with standard practice, from a Spanish National Health System perspective. Methods: A Markov model was designed to estimate total costs, life years gained (LYG), and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) over a lifetime horizon with annual cycles. A hypothetical cohort of 1,000 patients eligible for colonoscopy (mean age 61.32 years) was distributed between Markov states according to polyp size, location, and histology based on national screening program data. CADe/CADx efficacy was determined based on adenoma miss rates and natural disease evolution was simulated according to annual transition probabilities. Detected polyp management involved polypectomy and histopathology in standard practice, whereas with CADe/CADx leave-in-situ strategy was applied for ≤ 5 mm rectosigmoid non-adenomas and resect-and-discard strategy for the rest of ≤ 5mm polyps. Unit costs (€,2024) included the diagnostic procedure and polyp and colorectal cancer (CRC) management. A 3% annual discount rate was applied to costs and outcomes. Model inputs were validated by an expert panel. Results: CADe/CADx was more effective (16.37 LYG and 14.32 QALYs) than standard practice (16.33 LYG and 14.27 QALYs) over a lifetime horizon. Total cost per patient was €2,300.76 with CADe/CADx and €2,508.75 with colonoscopy alone. In a hypothetical cohort of 1,000 patients, CADe/CADx avoided 173 polypectomies, 370 histopathologies, and 7 CRC cases. Sensitivity analyses confirmed model robustness. Conclusions: The results of this analysis suggest that CADe/CADx would result in a dominant strategy versus standard practice in patients undergoing colonoscopy in Spain.