THE COST OF SCREENING FOR HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA - RESULTS FROM A CLINICAL-TRIAL IN SWEDISH PRIMARY HEALTH-CARE

The cost of screening for hypercholesterolaemia in a clinical trial was investigated at a primary health care centre. A convenience sample of the population was screened for inclusion in a study of the effectiveness of a lipid lowering programme. Included in the study were adults 30-59 years of age with a S-Cholesterol of 6.50-7.79 mmol l-1 at randomization, plus two previous values greater-than-or-equal-to 6.50 mmol l-1 at screening and selection, with at least two other cardiovascular risk factors. In total 447 persons were screened and 37 were randomized into the lipid lowering programme. The mean cost per randomized person was estimated at about SEK 7500 (Swedish Crowns). An analysis of different inclusion criteria for treatment was also carried out. The cost of finding a patient to treat in the clinical trial was estimated to be more than three times as high with a total cholesterol cut-off point of 7.80 mmol l-1 compared with a cut-off point of 5.20 mmol l-1.