Table 5

Sensitivity to Key Parameter Changes

ParameterHealth Impact QALYCost-Effectiveness $Cardiovascular Disease Event, No.Total Cost $ Million
Aspirin for primary prevention
Base case2,20031 saved pp−530−3.1
Treatment efficacy
 Low20091,700/QALY−502.5
 High4,00068 saved pp−910−6.8
Treatment effectiveness
 −10% (60% effectiveness)1,80018 saved pp−370−1.8
 +10% (80% effectiveness)2,60045 saved pp−720−4.5
Disease costs
 −25%2,20017 saved pp−530−1.7
 +25%2,20045 saved pp−530−4.5
Screening and medication costs
 Screening (clinic) costs, −25%2,20032 saved pp−530−3.2
 Screening (clinic) costs, +25%2,20030 saved pp−530−3.0
 Bulk aspirin (−35%), $11.93/y2,20036 saved pp−530−3.6
 Name brand aspirin (+32%), $24.04/y2,20027 saved pp−530−2.7
 No patient time cost2,20037 saved pp−530−3.7
QALY decrements
 −0.10 QALY2,10031 saved pp−530−3.1
 +0.10 QALY2,30031 saved pp−530−3.1
Cholesterol screening
Base case14,30033,800/QALY−3,96080.1
Treatment effectiveness
 −10% (60% effectiveness)12,40035,100/QALY−3,51071.8
 +10% (80% effectiveness)18,30027,200/QALY−5,14081.9
Disease costs
 −25%14,30037,600/QALY−3,96089.2
 +25%14,30030,000/QALY−3,96071.0
Screening, management, and medication costs
 Screening and management (clinic) costs, −25%14,30030,800/QALY−3,96073.0
 Screening and management (clinic) costs, +25%14,30036,800/QALY−3,96087.2
 Discount generic medications (−91%), $36.70/y14,3005,300/QALY−3,96012.6
 Name brand medications (+804%), $3,818.73/y14,300284,800/QALY−3,960675.1
 No patient time cost14,30028,000/QALY−3,96066.4
QALY decrements
 −0.10 QALY13,40037,400/QALY−3,96080.1
 +0.10 QALY15,00031,400/QALY−3,96080.1
Hypertension screening
Base case15,60048,500/QALY−4,000122.9
Treatment effectiveness
 −10% (60% effectiveness)11,80060,300/QALY−3,060115.7
 +10% (80% effectiveness)19,80039,700/QALY−5,100127.1
Disease costs
 −25%15,60052,000/QALY−4,000131.6
 +25%15,60045,100/QALY−4,000114.2
Screening, management, and medication costs
 Screening and management (clinic) costs, −25%15,60044,400/QALY−4,000112.5
 Screening and management (clinic) costs, +25%15,60052,500/QALY−4,000133.1
 Discount generic medications (−82%), $36.70/y15,60026,200/QALY−4,00066.5
 Name brand medications (+1,973%), $4,216.16/y15,600584,600/QALY−4,0001,481.0
 No patient time cost15,60034,200/QALY−4,00086.6
QALY decrements
 −0.10 QALY14,90052,300/QALY−4,000122.9
 +0.10 QALY15,70046,800/QALY−4,000122.9
  • CE = cost-effectiveness; CVD = cardiovascular disease; pp = per person; QALY = quality-adjusted life years.

  • Note: Cost-effectiveness is expressed in terms of incremental costs per QALY, unless a preventive service is cost-saving overall, in which case, it is expressed in terms of costs saved per person. Sources for the sensitivity ranges for medication costs are described in the Supplemental Appendix (Supplemental Appendix http://www.annfammed.org/content/15/1/23/suppl/DC1). All costs are expressed in 2012 US dollars.