Optimizing resource allocation: Cost-effectiveness of specified D-dimer cut-offs in cancer patients with suspected venous thromboembolism.
J Thromb Thrombolysis
; 57(6): 996-1007, 2024 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38762707
ABSTRACT
An accurate diagnosis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is crucial, given the potential for high mortality in undetected cases. Strategic D-dimer testing may aid in identifying low-risk patients, preventing overdiagnosis and reducing imaging costs. We conducted a retrospective, comparative analysis to assess the potential cost savings that could be achieved by adopting different approaches to determine the most effective D-dimer cut-off value in cancer patients with suspected VTE, compared to the commonly used rule-out cut-off level of 0.5 mg/L. The study included 526 patients (median age 65, IQR 55-75) with a confirmed cancer diagnosis who underwent D-dimer testing. Among these patients, the VTE prevalence was 29% (n = 152). Each diagnostic strategy's sensitivity, specificity, negative likelihood ratio (NLR), as well as positive likelihood ratio (PLR), and the proportion of patients exhibiting a negative D-dimer test result, were calculated. The diagnostic strategy that demonstrated the best balance between specificity, sensitivity, NLR, and PLR, utilized an inverse age-specific cut-off level for D-dimer [0.5 + (66-age) × 0.01 mg/L]. This method yielded a PLR of 2.9 at a very low NLR for the exclusion of VTE. We observed a significant cost reduction of 4.6% and 1.0% for PE and DVT, respectively. The utilization of an age-adjusted cut-off [patient's age × 0.01 mg/L] resulted in the highest cost savings, reaching 8.1% for PE and 3.4% for DVT. Using specified D-dimer cut-offs in the diagnosis of VTE could improve economics, considering the limited occurrence of confirmed cases among patients with suspected VTE.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Produtos de Degradação da Fibrina e do Fibrinogênio
/
Análise Custo-Benefício
/
Tromboembolia Venosa
/
Neoplasias
Limite:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Thromb Thrombolysis
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article