Screening for familial intracranial aneurysms: decision and cost-effectiveness analysis

To evaluate the potential benefits, harms, and cost-effectiveness of screening for asymptomatic, unruptured intracranial aneurysms in family members of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

Using a Markov model, we performed a decision and cost-effectiveness analysis comparing magnetic resonance (MR) angiography screening for asymptomatic, unruptured intracranial aneurysms to no screening in family members of patients with aneurysmal SAH. Treatment of unruptured intracranial aneurysms was determined according to patient age and aneurysm size and location. Cohort age was taken as 40 years.

In family members with two or more affected first-degree relatives, screening compared with no screening had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $37,400 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). With screening, life expectancy increased from 39.44 years to 39.55 years. The ICER of screening was >$50,000 per QALY if age at screening was > or =50 years. In family members with one affected first-degree relative, screening compared with no screening had an ICER of $56,500 per QALY.

The results suggest that MR angiography screening for asymptomatic, unruptured intracranial aneurysms in family members with two or more affected first-degree relatives is cost-effective. The benefit and cost-effectiveness are dependent on age at screening.