China county based COPD screening and cost-effectiveness analysis

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Health Economics
• Public Health Screening

Background:

• Early diagnosis and treatment of COPD improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
• Limited medical resources in China hinder timely COPD diagnosis and treatment.
• Data supporting the benefits of early screening for high-risk COPD populations is insufficient.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of early screening for high-risk COPD patients in China.
• To provide supporting data for the promotion of early COPD screening initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A 'Dual-lung screening initiative' was conducted using the COPD-population screener (COPD-PS) questionnaire.
• High-risk individuals (smokers >45, secondhand smoke exposure, lung disease history, respiratory symptoms) were screened.
• A cost-effectiveness analysis model (decision tree and Markov model) evaluated economic efficiency and disease progression.

Main Results:

• Out of 379 valid questionnaires, 92 patients (24.27%) were diagnosed with COPD.
• Early screening increased quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) by 0.28 units compared to no screening.
• The cost of screening was 6,366.19 RMB per patient, significantly below the willingness-to-pay threshold.

Conclusions:

• Early screening for high-risk COPD patients demonstrates a clear cost-effective advantage.
• Vigorous promotion of early screening is recommended for individuals at high risk of COPD.
• Screening initiatives can improve patient prognosis and optimize resource allocation in healthcare.