title: Screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia in primary care: a cost-effectiveness study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Haemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease and thalassaemia (SCT), are inherited disorders of haemoglobin. Antenatal screening for SCT rarely occurs before 10 weeks of pregnancy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the cost-effectiveness of offering SCT screening in a primary care setting, during the pregnancy confirmation visit.
  
  
  METHODS
  A model-based cost-effectiveness analysis of inner-city areas with a high proportion of residents from ethnic minority groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison was made of three SCT screening approaches: 'primary care parallel' (primary care screening with test offered to mother and father together); 'primary care sequential (primary care screening with test offered to the mother and then the father only if the mother is a carrier); and 'midwife care' (sequential screening at the first midwife consultation). The model was populated with data from the SHIFT (Screening for Haemoglobinopathies In First Trimester) trial and other sources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to midwife care, primary care sequential had a higher NHS cost of £34,000 per 10,000 pregnancies (95% confidence interval [CI] = £15,000 to £51,000) and an increase of 2623 women screened (95% CI: 1359 to 4495), giving a cost per additional woman screened by 10 weeks of £13. Primary care parallel was dominated by primary care sequential, with both higher costs and fewer women screened.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The policy judgement is whether an earlier opportunity for informed reproductive choice has a value of at least £13. Further work is required to understand the value attached to earlier informed reproductive choices.
authors.affiliation: Health Economics Unit, University of Birmingham. stirling.bryan@ubc.ca
authors.forename: Stirling
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bryan
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dormandy
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ades
authors.forename: Pelham
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Ariadna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Juarez-Garcia
authors.forename: Lazaros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andronis
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Karnon
authors.forename: Theresa M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Marteau
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000191:economics; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003376:Counseling / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics*