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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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Health Economic Evaluation of Screening with NT-proBNP for Heart Failure in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2024

Abstract

Background: People with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) face an elevated risk of heart failure (HF), leading to more hospitalizations and higher mortality. In Denmark, NT-proBNP, a blood test, is used to streamline HF diagnosis and potentially reduce unnecessary echocardiography, and SGLT2 inhibitors are recommended for T2DM with HF. Aim: To assess whether annual NT-proBNP screening combined with SGLT2 inhibitor therapy is cost-effective compared with current diagnostic and treatment practice for HF in ambulatory T2DM patients in Denmark. Methods: A Markov model estimated costs and QALYs for a hypothetical cohort of 1,000 patients using an NT-proBNP cut-off of ≥400 pg/mL over five years (one-year cycles). Treatment effects were informed by a meta-analysis, and base-case results, one-way deterministic sensitivity analysis, and scenario analyses were conducted. Results: In the base case, the incremental cost for NT-proBNP+SGLT2i versus standard of care was 1,503 DKK with an ICER of 63,400 DKK/QALY, and fewer HF hospitalizations than standard care. The one-way sensitivity analysis showed the greatest uncertainty around HF hospitalization parameters. In scenario analyses, a cut-off of ≥125 pg/mL yielded higher incremental costs and an ICER of 171,025 DKK/QALY but remained cost-effective, while ≥2000 pg/mL was dominant (less costly and more effective) with an ICER of -147,507 DKK/QALY. Conclusion: Annual NT-proBNP screening at ≥400 pg/mL combined with SGLT2 inhibitors is cost-effective compared with standard care when judged against the NICE-recommended willingness-to-pay threshold.

Baggrund: Personer med type 2-diabetes (T2DM) har øget risiko for hjertesvigt (HF), hvilket medfører flere indlæggelser og højere dødelighed. I Danmark bruges NT-proBNP, en blodprøve, som led i udredningen for at reducere unødvendig ekkokardiografi, og SGLT2-hæmmere anbefales som behandling ved T2DM med HF. Formål: At vurdere om årlig NT-proBNP-screening kombineret med SGLT2-hæmmerbehandling er omkostningseffektiv sammenlignet med gældende praksis for diagnostik og behandling af HF hos T2DM-patienter i ambulant regi i Danmark. Metode: En Markov-model estimerede omkostninger og QALY for en hypotetisk kohorte på 1.000 patienter ved en NT-proBNP-grænseværdi på ≥400 pg/mL over fem år (étårige cyklusser). Behandlingseffekter blev indhentet via meta-analyse, og der blev udført base-case beregninger, deterministisk følsomhedsanalyse og scenarieanalyser. Resultater: I base-case var den inkrementelle omkostning for NT-proBNP+SGLT2i versus standardbehandling 1.503 DKK, med en ICER på 63.400 DKK/QALY, og færre HF-indlæggelser end standardbehandling. Den deterministiske følsomhedsanalyse pegede på størst usikkerhed omkring HF-indlæggelser. I scenarieanalyser var en grænseværdi ≥125 pg/mL forbundet med højere inkrementelle omkostninger og ICER (171.025 DKK/QALY), men forblev omkostningseffektiv, mens ≥2000 pg/mL var dominerende (billigere og mere effektiv) med en ICER på -147.507 DKK/QALY. Konklusion: Årlig NT-proBNP-screening ved ≥400 pg/mL kombineret med SGLT2-hæmmere er omkostningseffektiv sammenlignet med standardbehandling, vurderet ud fra NICE’s anbefalede betalingsvillighedstærskel.

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