Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Preoperative Screening Strategies for Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Patients Undergoing Elective Inpatient Surgery

ConclusionsThe cost-effectiveness of preoperative obstructive sleep apnea screening differs depending on time horizon. Preoperative screening with STOP-Bang followed by immediate confirmatory testing with polysomnography is cost-effective on the lifetime horizon but not the perioperative horizon. The integration of preoperative screening based on STOP-Bang and polysomnography is a cost-effective means of mitigating the long-term disease burden of obstructive sleep apnea.Editor ’s PerspectiveWhat We Already Know about This TopicObstructive sleep apnea is common, frequently undiagnosed, and associated with increased risk of postoperative complications.This risk may be mitigated if obstructive sleep apnea is identified preoperatively.Several screening modalities are available. Polysomnography is the gold standard but expensive. The STOP-Bang questionnaire and portable monitors are cheaper but less accurate alternatives.What This Article Tells Us That Is NewIn a Canadian single healthcare payer model, the cost-effectiveness of preoperative obstructive sleep apnea screening differs depending on time horizon.Preoperative screening with STOP-Bang followed by immediate confirmatory testing with polysomnography is cost-effective on the lifetime horizon but not the perioperative horizon.
Source: Anesthesiology - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research