Table 3

Coverage, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of alternative screening strategies applied to the population at risk of premature cardiovascular disease (men 40–54 years of age; women 40–64 years of age)

Targeted screeningMass screening
Family members living in deprived communitiesDeprived communitiesFamily membersFamily members and deprived communities
Strategies implemented in isolation*
Coverage of general population5%17%28%41%100%
Coverage of high-risk population23%45%61%84%100%
% of screened population at high risk31%16%14%13%6%
Number needed to screen3.36.17.47.816.0
Mean cost per high-risk case detected (£)75141170180370
Strategies implemented incrementally
Additional coverage of general population5%36%59%
Additional coverage of high-risk population23%61%16%
% of additional screened population at high risk31%12%2%
Additional number needed to screen3.38.89.88.558.8
Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio75 (43 to 107)203 (117 to 289)225 (130 to 321)196 (113 to 278)1358 (784 to 1931)
Revised incremental cost-effectiveness ratio75 (43 to 107)Extended dominatedExtended dominated215 (124 to 306)1358 (784 to 1931)
  • * Referent to no screening.

  • Referent to screening strategy directly to the left (no screening for strategy 1).

  • Referent to the next non-dominated screening strategy to the left (no screening for strategy 1).