A Systematic Review on the Cost-Effectiveness of Genetic and Electrocardiogram Testing for Long QT Syndrome in Infants and Young Adults

Fernando Matias Gonzalez, Maria Assunta Veneziano, Anna Puggina, Stefania Boccia

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo in rivistaArticolo in rivista

7 Citazioni (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Recent improvements in the identification of the genetic basis of long QT syndrome (LQTS) have led to significant changes in the diagnosis and management of this life-threatening condition. Genetic and electrocardiogram (ECG) tests are the most relevant examples among testing strategies for LQTS, yet their cost-effectiveness remains controversial. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to review the available evidence on the cost-effectiveness of genetic and ECG testing strategies for the diagnosis of LQTS. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of the literature on the cost-effectiveness of genetic and ECG screening strategies for the early detection of LQTS using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CRD databases between 2000 and 2013. A weighted version of Drummond checklist was instrumental in further assessing the quality of the included studies. RESULTS: We identified four eligible articles. Among them, genetic testing in the early detection of LQTS was cost-effective compared with no testing in symptomatic cases and not cost-effective when compared with watchful waiting in asymptomatic first-degree relatives of patients with established LQTS although it reached cost-effectiveness in higher risk subgroups, whereas ECG testing in neonates was highly cost-effective when compared with any screening strategy. CONCLUSIONS: LQTS profiling and patients' stratification have the potential to improve the disease management. Because of the limited current knowledge in this field, the present review recommends to perform further cost-effectiveness evaluations of the genetic and ECG screening alternatives, especially within European health care systems, which are still not available in the literature on genetic testing.
Lingua originaleEnglish
pagine (da-a)700-708
Numero di pagine9
RivistaValue in Health
Volume18
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - 2015

Keywords

  • ECG
  • cost-effectiveness
  • economic evaluation
  • genetic testing
  • long QT syndrome

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