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Heubel-Moenen FCJI, Ansems LEM, Verhezen PWM, Wetzels RJH, van Oerle RGM, Straat RJMHE, Megy K, Downes K, Henskens YMC, Beckers EAM, Joore MA. Effectiveness and costs of a stepwise versus an all-in-one approach to diagnose mild bleeding disorders. Br J Haematol 2023; 200:792-801. [PMID: 36444397 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The diagnostic work-up of patients referred to the haematologist for bleeding evaluation is performed in a stepwise way: bleeding history and results of screening laboratory tests guide further diagnostic evaluation. This can be ineffective, time-consuming and burdensome for patients. To improve this strategy, the initial laboratory investigation can be extended. In a model-based approach, effectiveness and costs of a conventional stepwise versus a newly proposed all-in-one diagnostic approach for bleeding evaluation were evaluated and compared, using data from an observational patient cohort study, including adult patients referred for bleeding evaluation. In the all-in-one approach, specialized platelet function tests, coagulation factors, and fibrinolysis tests were included in the initial investigation. Final diagnosis, hospital resource use and costs and patient burden were compared. A total of 150 patients were included. Compared to the stepwise approach, in the all-in-one approach, 19 additional patients reached a diagnosis and patient burden was lower, but total costs per patient were higher [€359, 95% bootstrapped confidence interval (BCI) 283-518, p = 0.001]. For bleeding evaluation of patients referred to the haematologist, an all-in-one diagnostic approach has a higher diagnostic yield and reduces patient burden, at a higher cost. This raises the question what costs justify the diagnosis of a bleeding disorder and a less burdensome diagnostic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Floor C J I Heubel-Moenen
- Department of Hematology, Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Loes E M Ansems
- Department of Hematology, Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul W M Verhezen
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Unit for Hemostasis and Transfusion, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rick J H Wetzels
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Unit for Hemostasis and Transfusion, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Rene G M van Oerle
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Unit for Hemostasis and Transfusion, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Ron J M H E Straat
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Unit for Hemostasis and Transfusion, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Karyn Megy
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) BioResource, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kate Downes
- National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) BioResource, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.,Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK.,Cambridge University Hospitals Genomic Laboratory, Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, UK
| | - Yvonne M C Henskens
- Central Diagnostic Laboratory, Unit for Hemostasis and Transfusion, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Erik A M Beckers
- Department of Hematology, Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Manuela A Joore
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment (KEMTA), Maastricht University Medical Centre+, CAPHRI Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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