title: Cost-effectiveness analysis of lung cancer screening with low-dose computerised tomography of the chest in Poland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the cost-effectiveness of lung cancer (LC) screening with low-dose computerised tomography of the chest, as compared to an approach without screening, reimbursed today by the National Health Fund (NHF) in Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to analyse the current costs of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures of a model LC patient treated today, a model group consisting of 199 consecutive patients diagnosed and treated in the Oncology Centre in Bydgoszcz, Poland from January 2007 to April 2010 was used. The number and type of performed procedures in this group was obtained from the Polish Register of Neoplasms and the NHF. Only direct medical costs were analysed. To calculate the total costs of screening, diagnostics, and treatment of the hypothetical LC patient who would have cancer diagnosed with screening CT, data from the literature and costs calculated for the model group were used. Prices of procedures were obtained from the price list of the NHF on 30 April 2010 and did not change from that time until June 2014. One-way sensitivity analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average cost per LC patient, diagnosed and treated without screening, is 5567.50 EUR, and median LC-specific survival is one year. In the hypothetical LC patient with cancer diagnosed by screening, the average cost is 13689.35 EUR per LC patient, with a median LC-specific survival of at least seven years. A calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) is 1353.64 EUR/year of life gained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lung cancer screening with low-dose CT would be highly cost-effective in Poland.
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Kanarkiewicz
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Oncology Center, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Tomasz J
authors: TJ
authors: Szczęsny
authors: Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Krysiński
authors: Department of Biopharmacy, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Buciński
authors: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Oncology Center, Bydgoszcz, Poland; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Janusz
authors: J
authors: Kowalewski
authors: Managing Director of Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
authors: Zbigniew
authors: Z
authors: Pawłowicz
keywords: cost-effectiveness analysis; low-dose CT; lung cancer; screening