Universal Atrial Fibrillation Screening Using Electrocardiographic Artificial Intelligence: A Cost-Effective Approach in Rural Communities
摘要
Atrial fibrillation (AF) significantly contributes to the incidence of strokes. Screening for AF enhances its detection and effective management. However, universal AF screening in rural areas poses a challenge. This study evaluates the cost-effectiveness of artificial intelligence-enabled 12-lead electrocardiography (AI-ECG) model for AF screening in rural communities.
This cost-effectiveness analysis targeted individuals aged 65 or older, employing a lifelong decision analytic Markov model. AI-ECG model, trained and validated at three Taiwanese hospitals with 285,108 patients, achieved sensitivities of 97.8% and specificities of 99.1%. The study incorporated costs and efficacy of anticoagulant treatments, health status utilities, and clinical variables, derived from literature and Taiwan’s epidemiological data. Outcomes were expressed in US dollars per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). The base-case analysis contrasted AI-ECG screening performed by nurses and physician evaluations using standard 12-lead ECGs against no screening, incorporating uncertainty through probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Results were compared with one GDP per capita in Taiwan (≈$32,327 per QALY), a commonly cited willingness-to-pay (WTP) benchmark.
Both AI-ECG and physician-led screenings were costlier yet more effective compared with no screening. Although both methods showed comparable effectiveness in detecting AF and in QALYs gained, AI-ECG screening was less expensive ($141 versus $196). Based on 5,000 Monte Carlo simulations, AI-based screening is more cost-effective at lower thresholds ($4,349 to $6,132 per QALY), while physician-led screening becomes preferable beyond $6,132 per QALY. Both strategies remained cost-effective relative to the WTP benchmark. Sensitivity analyses further identified the referral rate following a positive AI-ECG screening as a critical determinant of its cost-effectiveness.
AI-ECG screening for AF is a cost-effective alternative, particularly suitable for areas with limited medical resources.
Graphical AbstractIllustration of the results of the cost-effectiveness analysis comparing AF screening methods: AI-ECG, physician-led screening, and no screening.