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Lung cancer screening has important advantages and disadvantages. Screening actually reduces lung cancer mortality and overall mortality among those screened. But a number of screened people are needlessly scared by a so-called false positive result. This is evident from a study by the Federal Center for Healthcare Intelligence (KCE).
Source: BELGIAN
Lung cancer is common, but the disease is usually only detected at a late stage. The chances of recovery are then very limited. Recent cancer mortality figures in Belgium show that lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Belgium.
According to the KCE, there are increasing calls for people with a high risk of lung cancer, such as heavy (former) smokers, to be regularly screened with a low-dose CT scan. If the cancer is detected at an early stage, the treatment options and survival rates are much better. The KCE was therefore asked to investigate the effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of such screening.
From the study, the KCE concludes that lung cancer screening actually reduces mortality from lung cancer and general mortality among those screened: by 21 and 5 percent respectively. The study submitted to Belgium shows that when 1,000 high-risk people participate in 3 screening rounds, 10 years later 3 lives are saved thanks to the screening.
Stress and problems
The KCE also emphasizes that several people are screened in unnecessary fear of a false positive result. They must then undergo additional, invasive investigations, such as biopsies or surgical procedures.
“Besides unnecessary stress, these procedures can also cause problems. In addition, there are several participants who get an inconclusive result, which requires a new scan, which causes stress, inconvenience and additional costs,” he said.
20,000 euros per year of life earned
The KCE calculated that lung cancer screening in our country would provide an additional cost-effectiveness ratio of 18,530 euros per year of life gained adjusted for quality of life. Several elements have an important influence on this result, such as the number of overdiagnoses, secret price discounts on some cancer treatments, costs of reaching and inviting the target group and the number of participants in the screening.
The KCE concludes that lung cancer screening can be cost-effective if the government is willing to pay over 20,000 euros per life year gained, adjusted for quality of life. “It is up to policymakers to make a careful decision based on this data and any other factors. For example, it is better for the government to check in advance the willingness of the target group to participate in this screening after being properly informed about the advantages and disadvantages,” he said.
2024-04-17 22:09:46
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