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Screening for familial intracranial aneurysm: resource implications
G Roberts1, J Nanra, J Phillips
1Department of Neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
British Journal of Neurosurgery
|January 5, 2000
Summary
Screening first-degree relatives for intracranial aneurysms (IA) identifies a significant number of at-risk individuals. However, a national screening program presents substantial logistical and financial challenges for healthcare services.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Surgery
- Public Health
Background:
- Intracranial aneurysms (IA) can have a familial component, necessitating investigation into screening high-risk relatives.
- Estimating the resource implications of screening is crucial for public health planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the resource implications of screening first-degree relatives of patients with a history of intracranial aneurysm (IA).
Main Methods:
- A postal survey of 374 patients who underwent IA clipping was conducted to gather data on family history and structure.
- Prevalence data and screening yields from previous studies were used to estimate national screening needs.
Main Results:
- 14.0% of patients reported IA in first-degree relatives, with an average of 5.6 screenable relatives per high-risk family.
- A national screening program could identify over 700 individuals with asymptomatic IAs, requiring 1.1-2.3 years for initial screening.
- Screening first-degree relatives for familial IA disease poses significant logistical and financial burdens.
Conclusions:
- Screening first-degree relatives for intracranial aneurysms is resource-intensive.
- The logistical and financial implications must be carefully considered for any national screening program.