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Weymann D, Buckell J, Fahr P, Loewen R, Ehman M, Pollard S, Friedman JM, Stockler-Ipsiroglu S, Elliott AM, Wordsworth S, Buchanan J, Regier DA. Health Care Costs After Genome-Wide Sequencing for Children With Rare Diseases in England and Canada. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2420842. [PMID: 38985473 PMCID: PMC11238031 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.20842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Etiologic diagnoses for rare diseases can involve a diagnostic odyssey, with repeated health care interactions and inconclusive diagnostics. Prior studies reported cost savings associated with genome-wide sequencing (GWS) compared with cytogenetic or molecular testing through rapid genetic diagnosis, but there is limited evidence on whether diagnosis from GWS is associated with reduced health care costs. Objective To measure changes in health care costs after diagnosis from GWS for Canadian and English children with suspected rare diseases. Design, Setting, and Participants This cohort study was a quasiexperimental retrospective analysis across 3 distinct English and Canadian cohorts, completed in 2023. Mixed-effects generalized linear regression was used to estimate associations between GWS and costs in the 2 years before and after GWS. Difference-in-differences regression was used to estimate associations of genetic diagnosis and costs. Costs are in 2019 US dollars. GWS was conducted in a research setting (Genomics England 100 000 Genomes Project [100KGP] and Clinical Assessment of the Utility of Sequencing and Evaluation as a Service [CAUSES] Research Clinic) or clinical outpatient setting (publicly reimbursed GWS in British Columbia [BC], Canada). Participants were children with developmental disorders, seizure disorders, or both undergoing GWS between 2014 and 2019. Data were analyzed from April 2021 to September 2023. Exposures GWS and genetic diagnosis. Main Outcomes and Measures Annual health care costs and diagnostic costs per child. Results Study cohorts included 7775 patients in 100KGP, among whom 788 children had epilepsy (mean [SD] age at GWS, 11.6 [11.1] years; 400 female [50.8%]) and 6987 children had an intellectual disability (mean [SD] age at GWS, 8.2 [8.4] years; 2750 female [39.4%]); 77 patients in CAUSES (mean [SD] age at GWS, 8.5 [4.4] years; 33 female [42.9%]); and 118 publicly reimbursed GWS recipients from BC (mean [SD] age at GWS, 5.5 [5.2] years; 58 female [49.2%]). GWS diagnostic yield was 143 children (18.1%) for those with epilepsy and 1323 children (18.9%) for those with an intellectual disability in 100KGP, 47 children (39.8%) in the BC publicly reimbursed setting, and 42 children (54.5%) in CAUSES. Mean annual per-patient spending over the study period was $5283 (95% CI, $5121-$5427) for epilepsy and $3373 (95% CI, $3322-$3424) for intellectual disability in the 100KGP, $724 (95% CI, $563-$886) in CAUSES, and $1573 (95% CI, $1372-$1773) in the BC reimbursed setting. Receiving a genetic diagnosis from GWS was not associated with changed costs in any cohort. Conclusions and Relevance In this study, receiving a genetic diagnosis was not associated with cost savings. This finding suggests that patient benefit and cost-effectiveness should instead drive GWS implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre Weymann
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - John Buckell
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Primary Health Care Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick Fahr
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Rosalie Loewen
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Morgan Ehman
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Samantha Pollard
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jan M. Friedman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sylvia Stockler-Ipsiroglu
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Division of Biochemical Genetics, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alison M. Elliott
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah Wordsworth
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - James Buchanan
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Dean A. Regier
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Regier DA, Loewen R, Chan B, Ehman M, Pollard S, Friedman JM, Stockler-Ipsiroglu S, van Karnebeek C, Race S, Elliott AM, Dragojlovic N, Lynd LD, Weymann D. Real-world diagnostic outcomes and cost-effectiveness of genome-wide sequencing for developmental and seizure disorders: Evidence from Canada. Genet Med 2024; 26:101069. [PMID: 38205742 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2024.101069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To determine real-world diagnostic rates, cost trajectories, and cost-effectiveness of exome sequencing (ES) and genome sequencing (GS) for children with developmental and/or seizure disorders in British Columbia, Canada. METHODS Based on medical records review, we estimated real-world costs and outcomes for 491 patients who underwent standard of care (SOC) diagnostic testing at British Columbia Children's Hospital. Results informed a state-transition Markov model examining cost-effectiveness of 3 competing diagnostic strategies: (1) SOC with last-tier access to ES, (2) streamlined ES access, and (3) first-tier GS. RESULTS Through SOC, 49.4% (95% CI: 40.6, 58.2) of patients were diagnosed at an average cost of C$11,683 per patient (95% CI: 9200, 14,166). Compared with SOC, earlier ES or GS access yielded similar or improved diagnostic rates and shorter times to genetic diagnosis, with 94% of simulations demonstrating cost savings for streamlined ES and 60% for first-tier GS. Net benefit from the perspective of the health care system was C$2956 (95% CI: -608, 6519) for streamlined ES compared with SOC. CONCLUSION Using real-world data, we found earlier access to ES may yield more rapid genetic diagnosis of childhood developmental and seizure disorders and cost savings compared with current practice in a Canadian health care system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean A Regier
- School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Rosalie Loewen
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Brandon Chan
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Morgan Ehman
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Samantha Pollard
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jan M Friedman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sylvia Stockler-Ipsiroglu
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Division of Biochemical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Clara van Karnebeek
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Departments of Pediatrics and Human Genetics, Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Simone Race
- Division of Biochemical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Alison M Elliott
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nick Dragojlovic
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Larry D Lynd
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, Providence Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Deirdre Weymann
- Cancer Control Research, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada.
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Cirillo L, Becherucci F. The evolving role of first-tier exome sequencing in medical diagnostics. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2024; 39:560-563. [PMID: 37858299 DOI: 10.1093/ndt/gfad222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Cirillo
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Becherucci
- Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, Florence, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Guertin JR, Gilbert-Ouimet M, Dugas M, Carnovale V, Jalbert L, Svyntozelska O, Demers J, Matteau L, Bergeron F, LeBlanc A. Methods used to account for caregivers' sex and gender within studies examining the financial burden of caregivers of children and adolescents : Results from a scoping review. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2024; 16:35-53. [PMID: 38298908 PMCID: PMC10829241 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s443077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Interest in the financial burden of informal caregivers has been growing. Unfortunately, it remains unclear which method(s) should be used when quantifying this burden. Purpose We conducted a scoping review aimed at identifying which methods have been used to conduct such work and quantified their performance. We were also interested in examining how sex and gender considerations were considered within selected studies. Data Sources Using a standardized approach, we identified studies published between 2012 and 2022 that aimed to document the financial burden of caregivers to child and adolescent patients. Our search strategy was applied to the MEDLINE, Embase, CINHAL, and Academic Search Premier databases. Study Selection Manuscript selection was performed by pairs of reviewers. Data Extraction Data extraction was performed by one reviewer with a second reviewer performing quality control. Results were reported using a narrative approach. Data Synthesis We identified 9801 unique citations, of which 200 were included in our review. Selected studies covered various disease area (eg, infection/parasitic diseases [n = 31, 16%]) and included quantitative (n = 180, 90%), qualitative (n = 4, 2%) and mixed study designs (n = 16, 8%). Most studies (n = 182, 91%) used questionnaires/surveys, either alone or in combination with other methods, to assess caregivers' financial burden. Less than half (n = 93, 47%) of studies reported on caregivers' sex and none reported on their gender. Conclusion We conducted an unrestricted review of published studies examining caregiver's financial burden which allowed us to identify general methodological trends observed in this literature. We believe this work may help improve future studies focusing on this important issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Robert Guertin
- Centre de recherche du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche en organogénèse expérimentale de l’Université Laval/LOEX, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Mahée Gilbert-Ouimet
- Centre de recherche du Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec À Rimouski, Levis, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michèle Dugas
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Valérie Carnovale
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Laura Jalbert
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Olha Svyntozelska
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Juliette Demers
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Léonie Matteau
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Health Sciences, Université du Québec À Rimouski, Levis, Quebec, Canada
| | - Frédéric Bergeron
- Bibliothèque-Direction des services-conseils, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Annie LeBlanc
- Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
- VITAM Research Center on Sustainable Health, Quebec Integrated University Health and Social Services Center, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
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Marshall DA, Gerber B, Lorenzetti DL, MacDonald KV, Bohach RJ, Currie GR. Are We Capturing the Socioeconomic Burden of Rare Genetic Disease? A Scoping Review of Economic Evaluations and Cost-of-Illness Studies. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2023; 41:1563-1588. [PMID: 37594668 DOI: 10.1007/s40273-023-01308-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Rare diseases have a significant impact on patients, families, the health system, and society. Measuring the socioeconomic burden is crucial to valuing interventions for rare diseases. Healthcare system costs are significant, but so are costs to other government sectors, patients, families, and society. To understand the breadth of costs captured in rare disease studies, we examined the cost categories and elements of socioeconomic burden captured in published studies. METHODS A scoping review was conducted using five electronic databases to identify English language economic evaluations and cost-of-illness studies of interventions for rare diseases (2011-21). We mapped costs using a previously developed evidence-informed framework of socioeconomic burden costs for rare disease. RESULTS Of 4890 studies identified, 48 economic evaluations and 22 cost-of-illness studies were included. While 18/22 cost-of-illness studies utilized a societal perspective, only 7/48 economic evaluations incorporated societal costs. Most reported cost categories related to medical costs, with medication and hospitalizations being the most common elements for both study designs. Costs borne by patients, families, and society were reported less among economic evaluations than cost-of-illness studies. These included: productivity (10% vs 77%), travel/accommodation (6% vs 68%), government benefits (4% vs 18%), and family impacts (0% vs 50%). CONCLUSIONS Contrary to cost-of-illness analyses, most of the included economic evaluations did not account for the hidden burden of rare diseases, that is, costs borne by patients, families, and societies. Including these types of costs in future studies would provide a more comprehensive picture of the burden of disease, providing empirical data to inform how we value and make decisions regarding rare disease interventions, health policy, and resource allocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah A Marshall
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Brittany Gerber
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Diane L Lorenzetti
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Health Sciences Library, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Karen V MacDonald
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Riley Jewel Bohach
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Gillian R Currie
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, Room 3C56, Health Research Innovation Centre, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
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Borle K, Michaels NJ, Evans DR, Elliott AM, Price M, Austin J. Advancing the Quintuple Aim for Health Care Improvement Through the Integration of Genetic Counselors into Primary Care. Am J Med 2023; 136:1136-1138. [PMID: 37699497 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kennedy Borle
- Interdisciplinary Studies Program, Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nathan J Michaels
- Precision Medicine and Genetic Services Unit, British Columbia Ministry of Health, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Daniel R Evans
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Alison M Elliott
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Morgan Price
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jehannine Austin
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
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Nurchis MC, Radio FC, Salmasi L, Heidar Alizadeh A, Raspolini GM, Altamura G, Tartaglia M, Dallapiccola B, Damiani G. Bayesian cost-effectiveness analysis of Whole genome sequencing versus Whole exome sequencing in a pediatric population with suspected genetic disorders. THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HEALTH ECONOMICS : HEPAC : HEALTH ECONOMICS IN PREVENTION AND CARE 2023:10.1007/s10198-023-01644-0. [PMID: 37975990 DOI: 10.1007/s10198-023-01644-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Genetic diseases are medical conditions caused by sequence or structural changes in an individual's genome. Whole exome sequencing (WES) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) are increasingly used for diagnosing suspected genetic conditions in children to reduce the diagnostic delay and accelerating the implementation of appropriate treatments. While more information is becoming available on clinical efficacy and economic sustainability of WES, the broad implementation of WGS is still hindered by higher complexity and economic issues. The aim of this study is to estimate the cost-effectiveness of WGS versus WES and standard testing for pediatric patients with suspected genetic disorders. A Bayesian decision tree model was set up. Model parameters were retrieved both from hospital administrative datasets and scientific literature. The analysis considered a lifetime time frame and adopted the perspective of the Italian National Health Service (NHS). Bayesian inference was performed using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulation method. Uncertainty was explored through a probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) and a value of information analysis (VOI). The present analysis showed that implementing first-line WGS would be a cost-effective strategy, against the majority of the other tested alternatives at a threshold of €30,000-50,000, for diagnosing outpatient pediatric patients with suspected genetic disorders. According to the sensitivity analyses, the findings were robust to most assumption and parameter uncertainty. Lessons learnt from this modeling study reinforces the adoption of first-line WGS, as a cost-effective strategy, depending on actual difficulties for the NHS to properly allocate limited resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Cesare Nurchis
- School of Economics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168, Rome, Italy.
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168, Rome, Italy.
| | | | - Luca Salmasi
- Department of Economics and Finance, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Aurora Heidar Alizadeh
- Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Marco Raspolini
- Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Gerardo Altamura
- Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Tartaglia
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Dallapiccola
- Molecular Genetics and Functional Genomics, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù IRCCS, 00146, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Damiani
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168, Rome, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences and Public Health, Section of Hygiene, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168, Rome, Italy
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Ferri-Rufete D, López-González A, Casas-Alba D, Cuadras D, Palau F, Martínez-Monseny A. Clinical Genetics Assessment Triangle (CGAT): A simple tool to identify patients with genetic conditions. Eur J Med Genet 2023; 66:104858. [PMID: 37758166 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2023.104858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to develop a simple tool for general physicians to promptly identify and refer pediatric patients with a higher probability of having a genetic condition. STUDY DESIGN This retrospective, descriptive study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric hospital's Clinical Genetics Unit from June 2019 to January 2020. We included patients under 18 years of age who visited the unit, excluding those without genetic testing. Epidemiological, clinical, and genetic variables were collected from electronic medical records. The primary outcome was the diagnosis of a genetic condition based on genetic testing. RESULTS Among 445 patients, 304 were included; 163 (53.6%) were male, and mean age was 7.4 years (SD 5.1 years). A genetic condition was diagnosed in 139 patients (45.7%). Using a multiple logistic regression model, five variables significantly contributed to reaching a diagnosis: suspected diagnosis at referral (OR 3.45, P < 0.001), short stature (OR 3.11, P < 0.001), global developmental delay/intellectual disability (OR 2.65, P < 0.001), dysmorphic craniofacial features (OR 1.99, P = 0.035), and multiple congenital anomalies (OR 2.54, P = 0.033). The association strength (OR) increased when these variables were paired with each other. The study's findings are presented in the form of a triangle, known as the Clinical Genetics Assessment Triangle (CGAT), which summarizes the results. A decision tree model is applied to guide clinical department referrals based on the affected sides of the triangle. CONCLUSIONS The CGAT has the potential to enable general physicians to promptly identify pediatric patients with an increased probability of having a genetic condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Ferri-Rufete
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950, Spain.
| | - Aitor López-González
- Pediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950, Spain.
| | - Dídac Casas-Alba
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Pediatric Institute of Rare Diseases (IPER), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950, Spain.
| | - Daniel Cuadras
- Statistics Department, Fundació Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950, Spain.
| | - Francesc Palau
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Pediatric Institute of Rare Diseases (IPER), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, 28029, Spain.
| | - Antonio Martínez-Monseny
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Pediatric Institute of Rare Diseases (IPER), Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, 08950, Spain.
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Wu Y, Jayasinghe K, Stark Z, Quinlan C, Patel C, McCarthy H, Mallawaarachchi AC, Kerr PG, Alexander S, Mallett AJ, Goranitis I. Genomic testing for suspected monogenic kidney disease in children and adults: A health economic evaluation. Genet Med 2023; 25:100942. [PMID: 37489581 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2023.100942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the relative cost-effectiveness of genomic testing compared with standard non-genomic diagnostic investigations in patients with suspected monogenic kidney disease from an Australian health care system perspective. METHODS Diagnostic and clinical information was used from a national cohort of 349 participants. Simulation modelling captured diagnostic, health, and economic outcomes during a time horizon from clinical presentation until 3 months post-test results based on the outcome of cost per additional diagnosis and lifetime horizon based on cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. RESULTS Genomic testing was Australian dollars (AU$) 1600 more costly per patient and led to an additional 27 diagnoses out of a 100 individuals tested, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of AU$5991 per additional diagnosis. Using a lifetime horizon, genomic testing resulted in an additional cost of AU$438 and 0.04 QALYs gained per individual compared with standard diagnostic investigations, corresponding to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of AU$10,823 per QALY gained. Sub-group analyses identified that the results were largely driven by the cost-effectiveness in glomerular diseases. CONCLUSION Based on established or expected thresholds of cost-effectiveness, our evidence suggests that genomic testing is very likely to be cost saving for individuals with suspected glomerular diseases, whereas no evidence of cost-effectiveness was found for non-glomerular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- You Wu
- Health Economics Unit, Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Kushani Jayasinghe
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Department of Nephrology, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia; Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; The KidGen Collaborative, Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Zornitza Stark
- Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Catherine Quinlan
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; The KidGen Collaborative, Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Chirag Patel
- The KidGen Collaborative, Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Australia; Genetic Health Queensland, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Hugh McCarthy
- Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Amali C Mallawaarachchi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter G Kerr
- Department of Nephrology, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia; Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Stephen Alexander
- Centre for Kidney Research, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew J Mallett
- The KidGen Collaborative, Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Australia; Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Renal Medicine, Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, Australia; College of Medicine & Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia.
| | - Ilias Goranitis
- Health Economics Unit, Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia; The KidGen Collaborative, Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Australia.
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10
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Borle K, Kopac N, Dragojlovic N, Llorian ER, Lynd LD. Defining Need Amid Exponential Change: Conceptual Challenges in Workforce Planning for Clinical Genetic Services. Clin Ther 2023; 45:695-701. [PMID: 37516568 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Rapid growth in the volume of referrals to clinical genetics services in many countries during the past 15 years makes workforce planning a critical policy tool in ensuring that the capacity of the clinical genetics workforce is large enough to meet current and future needs. This article explores the distinctive challenges of workforce planning in clinical genetics and provides recommendations for addressing these challenges using a needs-based planning approach. Specifically, at least 3 features complicate efforts to estimate the need for clinical genetic services: the difficulty in linking many clinical genetic services to concrete health outcomes; the rapidly changing nature of genetic medicine, which creates intrinsic uncertainty about the appropriate level of service; and the heightened relevance of patient preferences in this context. Our recommendations call for needs-based planning studies to include an explicit definition of necessary care, to be flexible in considering nonhealth benefits, to err on the side of including services currently funded by health systems even when evidence about outcomes is limited, and to use scenario analysis and expert input to explore the impact of uncertainty about patients' preferences and future technologies on estimates of workforce requirements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kennedy Borle
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicola Kopac
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nick Dragojlovic
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Elisabet Rodriguez Llorian
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Larry D Lynd
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, Providence Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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11
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Currie GR, Gerber B, Lorenzetti D, MacDonald K, Benseler SM, Bernier FP, Boycott KM, Carias KV, Hamelin B, Hayeems RZ, LeBlanc C, Twilt M, van Rooijen G, Wong-Rieger D, Yeung RSM, Marshall DA. Developing a Framework of Cost Elements of Socioeconomic Burden of Rare Disease: A Scoping Review. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2023; 41:803-818. [PMID: 37029233 DOI: 10.1007/s40273-023-01262-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Rare diseases place a significant burden on patients, families, the healthcare system, and society. Evidence on the socioeconomic burden of rare disease is limited and mostly reflects diseases where treatments are available. We developed a framework encompassing recommended cost elements for studies of the socioeconomic burden of rare diseases. METHODS A scoping review, conducted in five databases (Cochrane Library, EconLit, Embase, MEDLINE, and APA PsycINFO), identified English language publications from 2000 to 2021 presenting frameworks developed for determining, measuring or valuing costs for rare or chronic diseases. Cost elements were extracted and used to develop a literature-informed framework. Structured feedback was gathered from experts in rare diseases, health economics/health services, and policy research to revise the framework. RESULTS Of 2990 records identified, eight papers were included and informed our preliminary framework; three focused on rare disease and five on chronic disease. Following expert input, we developed a framework consisting of nine cost categories (inpatient, outpatient, community, healthcare products/goods, productivity/education, travel/accommodation, government benefits, family impacts, and other), with several cost elements within each category. Our framework includes unique costs, added from the expert feedback, including genetic testing to inform treatment, use of private laboratories or out-of-country testing, family involvement in foundations and organizations, and advocacy costs for special access programs. CONCLUSIONS Our work is the first to identify a comprehensive list of cost elements for rare disease for use by researchers and policy makers to fully capture socioeconomic burden. Use of the framework will increase the quality and comparability of future studies. Future work should focus on measuring and valuing these costs through onset, diagnosis, and post-diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian R Currie
- Department of Pediatrics, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 3C56, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada.
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Brittany Gerber
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Diane Lorenzetti
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Health Sciences Library, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Karen MacDonald
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Susanne M Benseler
- Department of Pediatrics, Health Research Innovation Centre, University of Calgary, Room 3C56, 3280 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Francois P Bernier
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Kym M Boycott
- Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Robin Z Hayeems
- Child Health Evaluative Sciences, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Claire LeBlanc
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marinka Twilt
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, and the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | | | - Rae S M Yeung
- Departments of Paediatrics, Immunology and Medical Science, The Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Deborah A Marshall
- Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
- O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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12
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Wiener EK, Buchanan J, Krause A, Lombard Z. Retrospective file review shows limited genetic services fails most patients - an argument for the implementation of exome sequencing as a first-tier test in resource-constraint settings. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:81. [PMID: 37046271 PMCID: PMC10091645 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02642-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exome sequencing is recommended as a first-line investigation for patients with a developmental delay or intellectual disability. This approach has not been implemented in most resource-constraint settings, including Africa, due to the high cost of implementation. Instead, patients have limited access to services and testing options. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of a limited genetic testing strategy and contrast the findings to a conceivable outcome if exome sequencing were available instead. RESULTS A retrospective audit of 934 patient files presenting to a medical genetics clinic in South Africa showed that 83% of patients presented with developmental delay as a clinical feature. Patients could be divided into three groups, representing distinct diagnostic pathways. Patient Group A (18%; mean test cost $131) were confirmed with aneuploidies, following a simple, inexpensive test. Patient Group B (25%; mean test cost $140) presented with clinically recognizable conditions but only 39% received a genetic diagnostic confirmation due to limited testing options. Patient Group C - the largest group (57%; mean test cost $337) - presented with heterogenous conditions and DD, and 92% remained undiagnosed after limited available testing was performed. CONCLUSIONS Patients with DD are the largest group of patients seen in medical genetics clinics in South Africa. When clinical features are not distinct, limited testing options drastically restricts diagnostic yield. A cost- and time analysis shows most patients would benefit from first-line exome sequencing, reducing their individual diagnostic odysseys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma K Wiener
- Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service and School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - James Buchanan
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Amanda Krause
- Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service and School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Zané Lombard
- Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service and School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
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13
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Elliott AM, Guimond C. Genetic counseling considerations in cerebral palsy. Mol Genet Metab 2022; 137:428-435. [PMID: 34389249 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Genome-wide sequencing (exome and whole genome) has transformed our ability to diagnose patients with suspected genetic disorders. Cerebral palsy (CP), although historically thought to be due to birth injury (perinatal hypoxia), represents a clinical spectrum of disorders, many of which have been attributed to a genetic cause. GWS has elucidated the underlying single gene cause for many patients with CP and has important implications for the customization of treatment, management, and genetic counseling. International guidelines recommend genetic counseling for all families considering genome-wide sequencing. Genetic counselors educate and support families and help them to make testing decisions based on their values. They can help families adapt to, and understand the implications of a genomic diagnosis. Here, we review advances in sequencing for CP, clinical features suggestive of a genetic etiology of CP, practice guidelines for GWS, and a practical approach to the genetic counseling of these families. This includes: the content to be addressed in pre-test and post-test genetic counseling sessions, the benefits of a establishing a genetic cause and importantly, the need for ongoing support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison M Elliott
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Colleen Guimond
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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14
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Hopkins CE, Brock T, Caulfield TR, Bainbridge M. Phenotypic screening models for rapid diagnosis of genetic variants and discovery of personalized therapeutics. Mol Aspects Med 2022; 91:101153. [PMID: 36411139 PMCID: PMC10073243 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2022.101153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Precision medicine strives for highly individualized treatments for disease under the notion that each individual's unique genetic makeup and environmental exposures imprints upon them not only a disposition to illness, but also an optimal therapeutic approach. In the realm of rare disorders, genetic predisposition is often the predominant mechanism driving disease presentation. For such, mostly, monogenic disorders, a causal gene to phenotype association is likely. As a result, it becomes important to query the patient's genome for the presence of pathogenic variations that are likely to cause the disease. Determining whether a variant is pathogenic or not is critical to these analyses and can be challenging, as many disease-causing variants are novel and, ergo, have no available functional data to help categorize them. This problem is exacerbated by the need for rapid evaluation of pathogenicity, since many genetic diseases present in young children who will experience increased morbidity and mortality without rapid diagnosis and therapeutics. Here, we discuss the utility of animal models, with a focus mainly on C. elegans, as a contrast to tissue culture and in silico approaches, with emphasis on how these systems are used in determining pathogenicity of variants with uncertain significance and then used to screen for novel therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas R Caulfield
- Mayo Clinic, Department of Neuroscience, Department of Computational Biology, Department of Clinical Genomics, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
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15
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Lavelle TA, Feng X, Keisler M, Cohen JT, Neumann PJ, Prichard D, Schroeder BE, Salyakina D, Espinal PS, Weidner SB, Maron JL. Cost-effectiveness of exome and genome sequencing for children with rare and undiagnosed conditions. Genet Med 2022; 24:1349-1361. [PMID: 35396982 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of exome sequencing (ES) and genome sequencing (GS) for children. METHODS We modeled costs, diagnoses, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for diagnostic strategies for critically ill infants (aged <1 year) and children (aged <18 years) with suspected genetic conditions: (1) standard of care (SOC) testing, (2) ES, (3) GS, (4) SOC followed by ES, (5) SOC followed by GS, (6) ES followed by GS, and (7) SOC followed by ES followed by GS. We calculated the 10-year incremental cost per additional diagnosis, and lifetime incremental cost per QALY gained, from a health care perspective. RESULTS First-line GS costs $15,048 per diagnosis vs SOC for infants and $27,349 per diagnosis for children. If GS is unavailable, ES represents the next most efficient option compared with SOC ($15,543 per diagnosis for infants and $28,822 per diagnosis for children). Other strategies provided the same or fewer diagnoses at a higher incremental cost per diagnosis. Lifetime results depend on the patient's assumed long-term prognosis after diagnosis. For infants, GS ranged from cost-saving (vs all alternatives) to $18,877 per QALY (vs SOC). For children, GS (vs SOC) ranged from $119,705 to $490,047 per QALY. CONCLUSION First-line GS may be the most cost-effective strategy for diagnosing infants with suspected genetic conditions. For all children, GS may be cost-effective under certain assumptions. ES is nearly as efficient as GS and hence is a viable option when GS is unavailable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara A Lavelle
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA.
| | - Xue Feng
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Marlena Keisler
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Joshua T Cohen
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Peter J Neumann
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Daria Salyakina
- Personalized Medicine and Health Outcomes Research, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL
| | - Paula S Espinal
- Personalized Medicine and Health Outcomes Research, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami, FL
| | - Samuel B Weidner
- Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR), Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Jill L Maron
- Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, Care New England Health System, Providence, RI
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16
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Goranitis I, Wu Y, Lunke S, White SM, Tan TY, Yeung A, Hunter MF, Martyn M, Gaff C, Stark Z. Is faster better? An economic evaluation of rapid and ultra-rapid genomic testing in critically ill infants and children. Genet Med 2022; 24:1037-1044. [PMID: 35181209 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2022.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate whether the additional cost of providing increasingly faster genomic results in pediatric critical care is outweighed by reductions in health care costs and increases in personal utility. METHODS Hospital costs and medical files from a cohort of 40 children were analyzed. The health economic impact of rapid and ultra-rapid genomic testing, with and without early initiation, relative to standard genomic testing was evaluated. RESULTS Shortening the time to results led to substantial economic and personal benefits. Early initiation of ultra-rapid genomic testing was the most cost-beneficial strategy, leading to a cost saving of AU$26,600 per child tested relative to standard genomic testing and a welfare gain of AU$12,000 per child tested. Implementation of early ultra-rapid testing of critically ill children is expected to lead to an annual cost saving of AU$7.3 million for the Australian health system and an aggregate welfare gain of AU$3.3 million, corresponding to a total net benefit of AU$10.6 million. CONCLUSION Early initiation of ultra-rapid genomic testing can offer substantial economic and personal benefits. Future implementation of rapid genomic testing programs should focus not only on optimizing the laboratory workflow to achieve a fast turnaround time but also on changing clinical practice to expedite test initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Goranitis
- Health Economics Unit, Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
| | - You Wu
- Health Economics Unit, Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sebastian Lunke
- Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Susan M White
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tiong Y Tan
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alison Yeung
- Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew F Hunter
- Monash Genetics, Monash Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa Martyn
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Clara Gaff
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Zornitza Stark
- Australian Genomics Health Alliance, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Victorian Clinical Genetics Services, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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17
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Elliott AM, Adam S, du Souich C, Lehman A, Nelson TN, van Karnebeek C, Alderman E, Armstrong L, Aubertin G, Blood K, Boelman C, Boerkoel C, Bretherick K, Brown L, Chijiwa C, Clarke L, Couse M, Creighton S, Watts-Dickens A, Gibson WT, Gill H, Tarailo-Graovac M, Hamilton S, Heran H, Horvath G, Huang L, Hulait GK, Koehn D, Lee HK, Lewis S, Lopez E, Louie K, Niederhoffer K, Matthews A, Meagher K, Peng JJ, Patel MS, Race S, Richmond P, Rupps R, Salvarinova R, Seath K, Selby K, Steinraths M, Stockler S, Tang K, Tyson C, van Allen M, Wasserman W, Mwenifumbo J, Friedman JM. Genome-wide Sequencing and the Clinical Diagnosis of Genetic Disease: The CAUSES Study. HGG ADVANCES 2022; 3:100108. [PMID: 35599849 PMCID: PMC9117924 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2022.100108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide sequencing (GWS) is a standard of care for diagnosis of suspected genetic disorders, but the proportion of patients found to have pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants ranges from less than 30% to more than 60% in reported studies. It has been suggested that the diagnostic rate can be improved by interpreting genomic variants in the context of each affected individual’s full clinical picture and by regular follow-up and reinterpretation of GWS laboratory results. Trio exome sequencing was performed in 415 families and trio genome sequencing in 85 families in the CAUSES study. The variants observed were interpreted by a multidisciplinary team including laboratory geneticists, bioinformaticians, clinical geneticists, genetic counselors, pediatric subspecialists, and the referring physician, and independently by a clinical laboratory using standard American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) criteria. Individuals were followed for an average of 5.1 years after testing, with clinical reassessment and reinterpretation of the GWS results as necessary. The multidisciplinary team established a diagnosis of genetic disease in 43.0% of the families at the time of initial GWS interpretation, and longitudinal follow-up and reinterpretation of GWS results produced new diagnoses in 17.2% of families whose initial GWS interpretation was uninformative or uncertain. Reinterpretation also resulted in rescinding a diagnosis in four families (1.9%). Of the families studied, 33.6% had ACMG pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants related to the clinical indication. Close collaboration among clinical geneticists, genetic counselors, laboratory geneticists, bioinformaticians, and individuals’ primary physicians, with ongoing follow-up, reanalysis, and reinterpretation over time, can improve the clinical value of GWS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison M Elliott
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Shelin Adam
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christèle du Souich
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Anna Lehman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Tanya N Nelson
- Division of Genome Diagnostics, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BC Children's and Women's Hospitals, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Clara van Karnebeek
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam, University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Emily Alderman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Linlea Armstrong
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gudrun Aubertin
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Katherine Blood
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cyrus Boelman
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Cornelius Boerkoel
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Karla Bretherick
- Division of Genome Diagnostics, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BC Children's and Women's Hospitals, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lindsay Brown
- Division of Genome Diagnostics, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BC Children's and Women's Hospitals, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Chieko Chijiwa
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lorne Clarke
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Madeline Couse
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Susan Creighton
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Abby Watts-Dickens
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - William T Gibson
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Harinder Gill
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | - Sara Hamilton
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Harindar Heran
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gabriella Horvath
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Biochemical Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Lijia Huang
- Division of Genome Diagnostics, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BC Children's and Women's Hospitals, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Gurdip K Hulait
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - David Koehn
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Hyun Kyung Lee
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Suzanne Lewis
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Elena Lopez
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kristal Louie
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Karen Niederhoffer
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Allison Matthews
- Division of Genome Diagnostics, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BC Children's and Women's Hospitals, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kirsten Meagher
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Junran J Peng
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Millan S Patel
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Simone Race
- Division of Biochemical Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Phillip Richmond
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rosemarie Rupps
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ramona Salvarinova
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Biochemical Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kimberly Seath
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kathryn Selby
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michelle Steinraths
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Sylvia Stockler
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Division of Biochemical Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kaoru Tang
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Christine Tyson
- Division of Genome Diagnostics, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BC Children's and Women's Hospitals, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Margot van Allen
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wyeth Wasserman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jill Mwenifumbo
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jan M Friedman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Goddard KAB, Lee K, Buchanan AH, Powell BC, Hunter JE. Establishing the Medical Actionability of Genomic Variants. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2022; 23:173-192. [PMID: 35363504 PMCID: PMC10184682 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-111021-032401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Actionability is an important concept in medicine that does not have a well-accepted standard definition, nor is there a general consensus on how to establish it. Medical actionability is often conflated with clinical utility, a related but distinct concept. This lack of clarity contributes to practice variation and inconsistent coverage decisions in genomic medicine, leading to the potential for systematic bias in the use of evidence-based interventions. We clarify how medical actionability and clinical utility are distinct and then discuss the spectrum of actionability, including benefits for the person, the family, and society. We also describe applications across the life course, including prediction, diagnosis, and treatment. Current challenges in assessing the medical actionability of identified genomic variants include gaps in the evidence, limited contexts with practice guidelines, and subjective aspects of medical actionability. A standardized and authoritative assessment of medical actionability is critical to implementing genomic medicine in a fashion that improves population health outcomes and reduces health disparities. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, Volume 23 is October 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina A B Goddard
- Department of Translational and Applied Genomics, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, USA; .,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; , .,Genomic Medicine Institute, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA; .,Genomics, Ethics, and Translational Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA;
| | - Kristy Lee
- Department of Translational and Applied Genomics, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, USA; .,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; , .,Genomic Medicine Institute, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA; .,Genomics, Ethics, and Translational Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA;
| | - Adam H Buchanan
- Department of Translational and Applied Genomics, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, USA; .,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; , .,Genomic Medicine Institute, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA; .,Genomics, Ethics, and Translational Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA;
| | - Bradford C Powell
- Department of Translational and Applied Genomics, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, USA; .,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; , .,Genomic Medicine Institute, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA; .,Genomics, Ethics, and Translational Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA;
| | - Jessica Ezzell Hunter
- Department of Translational and Applied Genomics, Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, USA; .,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; , .,Genomic Medicine Institute, Geisinger Health System, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA; .,Genomics, Ethics, and Translational Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA;
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19
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Spees LP, Hicklin K, Adams MC, Farnan L, Bensen JT, Gilleskie DB, Berg JS, Powell BC, Lich KH. Testing and extending strategies for identifying genetic disease-related encounters in pediatric patients. Genet Med 2022; 24:831-838. [PMID: 35034852 PMCID: PMC8995346 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2021.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To better understand health care utilization and develop decision support tools, methods for identifying patients with suspected genetic diseases (GDs) are needed. Previous studies had identified inpatient-relevant International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes that were possibly, probably, or definitely indicative of GDs. We assessed whether these codes identified GD-related inpatient, outpatient, and emergency department encounters among pediatric patients with suspected GDs from a previous study (the North Carolina Clinical Genomic Evaluation by Next-Generation Exome Sequencing [NCGENES] study). METHODS Using the electronic medical records of 140 pediatric patients from the NCGENES study, we characterized the presence of ICD codes representing possible, probable, or definite GD-related diagnoses across encounter types. In addition, we examined codes from encounters for which initially no GD-related codes had been found and determined whether these codes were indicative of a GD. RESULTS Among NCGENES patients with visits between 2014 and 2017, 92% of inpatient, 75% of emergency department, and 63% of outpatient encounters included ≥1 GD-related code. Encounters with highly specific (ie, definite) GD codes had fewer low-specificity GD codes than encounters with only low-specificity GD codes. We identified an additional 32 ICD-9 and 56 ICD-10 codes possibly indicative of a GD. CONCLUSION Code-based strategies can be refined to assess health care utilization among pediatric patients and may contribute to a systematic approach to identify patients with suspected GDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa P Spees
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC.
| | - Karen Hicklin
- Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Michael C Adams
- Division of Pediatric Genetics & Metabolism, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Laura Farnan
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Jeannette T Bensen
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Donna B Gilleskie
- Department of Economics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Jonathan S Berg
- Department of Genetics, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Bradford C Powell
- Department of Genetics, UNC School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Kristen Hassmiller Lich
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
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20
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Nurchis MC, Riccardi MT, Radio FC, Chillemi G, Bertini ES, Tartaglia M, Cicchetti A, Dallapiccola B, Damiani G. Incremental net benefit of Whole Genome Sequencing for newborns and children with suspected genetic disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis of cost-effectiveness evidence. Health Policy 2022; 126:337-345. [DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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21
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Olde Keizer RACM, Marouane A, Deden AC, van Zelst-Stams WAG, de Boode WP, Keusters WR, Henneman L, van Amstel JKP, Frederix GWJ, Vissers LELM. Medical costs of children admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit: The role and possible economic impact of WES in early diagnosis. Eur J Med Genet 2022; 65:104467. [PMID: 35240323 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2022.104467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
It has been estimated that at least 6.0% of neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit remains genetically undiagnosed because genetic testing is not routinely performed. The objective of this study is to provide an overview of average healthcare costs for patients admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and to assess possible impact of implementing Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) on these total healthcare costs. Hereto, we retrospectively collected postnatal healthcare data of all patients admitted to the level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Radboudumc (October 2013-October 2015) and linked unit costs to these healthcare consumptions. Average healthcare costs were calculated and a distinction between patients was made based on performance of genetic tests and the presence of congenital anomalies. Overall, on average €26,627 was spent per patient. Genetic costs accounted for 2.3% of all costs. Healthcare costs were higher for patients with congenital anomalies compared to patients without congenital anomalies. Patients with genetic diagnostics were also more expensive than patients without genetic diagnostics. We next modelled four scenarios based on clinical preselection. First, when performing trio-WES for all patients instead of current diagnostics, overall healthcare costs will increase with 22.2%. Second, performing trio-WES only for patients with multiple congenital anomalies will not result in any cost changes, but this would leave patients with an isolated congenital anomalies untested. We therefore next modelled a scenario performing trio-WES for all patients with congenital anomalies, increasing the average per patient healthcare costs by 5.3%. This will rise to a maximum of 5.5% when also modelling for an extra genetic test for clinically selected patients to establish genetic diagnoses that are undetectable by WES. In conclusion, genetic diagnostic testing accounted for a small fraction of total costs. Implementation of trio-WES as first-tier test for all patients with congenital anomalies will lead to a limited increase in overall healthcare budget, but will facilitate personalized treatments options guided by the diagnoses made.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richelle A C M Olde Keizer
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Abderrahim Marouane
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - A Chantal Deden
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Wendy A G van Zelst-Stams
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Willem P de Boode
- Department of Neonatology, Radboud University Medical Center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Amalia Children's Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Willem R Keusters
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Lidewij Henneman
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Gerardus W J Frederix
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Genetics, Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Lisenka E L M Vissers
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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22
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Aaltio J, Hyttinen V, Kortelainen M, Frederix GWJ, Lönnqvist T, Suomalainen A, Isohanni P. Cost-effectiveness of whole-exome sequencing in progressive neurological disorders of children. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2022; 36:30-36. [PMID: 34852981 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To clarify the diagnostic utility and the cost-effectiveness of whole-exome sequencing (WES) as a routine early-diagnostic tool in children with progressive neurological disorders. METHODS Patients with infantile-onset severe neurological diseases or childhood-onset progressive neurological disorders were prospectively recruited to this WES study, in the pediatric neurology clinic at Helsinki University Hospital during 2016-2018. A total of 48 patients underwent a singleton WES. A control group of 49 children underwent traditional diagnostic examinations and were retrospectively collected from the hospital records. Their use of health care services, related to the diagnostic process, was gathered. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) per additional diagnosis was calculated from the health care provider perspective. Bootstrapping methods were used to estimate the uncertainty of cost-effectiveness outcomes. RESULTS WES provided a better diagnostic yield (38%) than diagnostic pathway that did not prioritize WES in early diagnosis (25%). WES outperformed other diagnostic paths especially when made early, within one year of first admission (44%). Cost-effectiveness in our results are conservative, affected by WES costs during 2016-18. CONCLUSIONS WES is an efficient and cost-effective diagnostic tool that should be prioritized in early diagnostic path of children with progressive neurological disorders. The progressively decreasing price of the test improves cost-effectiveness further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juho Aaltio
- Research Programs Unit, Stem Cells and Metabolism, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Virva Hyttinen
- VATT Institute for Economic Research, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Health and Social Management, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mika Kortelainen
- VATT Institute for Economic Research, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Economics, Turku School of Economics, Turku, Finland
| | - Gerardus W J Frederix
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Tuula Lönnqvist
- Department of Child Neurology, Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu Suomalainen
- Research Programs Unit, Stem Cells and Metabolism, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; HUS Diagnostics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pirjo Isohanni
- Research Programs Unit, Stem Cells and Metabolism, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Child Neurology, Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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23
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Cost-effectiveness of genome sequencing for diagnosing patients with undiagnosed rare genetic diseases. Genet Med 2021; 24:109-118. [PMID: 34906478 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2021.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To estimate the cost-effectiveness of genome sequencing (GS) for diagnosing critically ill infants and noncritically ill pediatric patients (children) with suspected rare genetic diseases from a United States health sector perspective. METHODS A decision-analytic model was developed to simulate the diagnostic trajectory of patients. Parameter estimates were derived from a targeted literature review and meta-analysis. The model simulated clinical and economic outcomes associated with 3 diagnostic pathways: (1) standard diagnostic care, (2) GS, and (3) standard diagnostic care followed by GS. RESULTS For children, costs of GS ($7284) were similar to that of standard care ($7355) and lower than that of standard care followed by GS pathways ($12,030). In critically ill infants, when cost estimates were based on the length of stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, the lowest cost pathway was GS ($209,472). When only diagnostic test costs were included, the cost per diagnosis was $17,940 for standard, $17,019 for GS, and $20,255 for standard care followed by GS. CONCLUSION The results of this economic model suggest that GS may be cost neutral or possibly cost saving as a first line diagnostic tool for children and critically ill infants.
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24
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Mancini GMS, Smits DJ, Dekker J, Schot R, de Wit MCY, Lequin MH, Dremmen M, Brooks AS, van Ham T, Verheijen FW, Fornerod M, Dobyns WB, Wilke M. Multidisciplinary interaction and MCD gene discovery. The perspective of the clinical geneticist. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2021; 35:27-34. [PMID: 34592643 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2021.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The increasing pace of gene discovery in the last decade has brought a major change in the way the genetic causes of brain malformations are being diagnosed. Unbiased genomic screening has gained the first place in the diagnostic protocol of a child with congenital (brain) anomalies and the detected variants are matched with the phenotypic presentation afterwards. This process is defined as "reverse phenotyping". Screening of DNA, through copy number variant analysis of microarrays and analysis of exome data on different platforms, obtained from the index patient and both parents has become a routine approach in many centers worldwide. Clinicians are used to multidisciplinary team interaction in patient care and disease management and this explains why the majority of research that has led to the discovery of new genetic disorders nowadays proceeds from clinical observations to genomic analysis and to data exchange facilitated by open access sharing databases. However, the relevance of multidisciplinary team interaction has not been object of systematic research in the field of brain malformations. This review will illustrate some examples of how diagnostically driven questions through multidisciplinary interaction, among clinical and preclinical disciplines, can be successful in the discovery of new genes related to brain malformations. The first example illustrates the setting of interaction among neurologists, geneticists and neuro-radiologists. The second illustrates the importance of interaction among clinical dysmorphologists for pattern recognition of syndromes with multiple congenital anomalies. The third example shows how fruitful it can be to step out of the "clinical comfort zone", and interact with basic scientists in applying emerging technologies to solve the diagnostic puzzles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazia M S Mancini
- Department of Clinical Genetics, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Genetic Neurocognitive Developmental Disorders, Erasmus, MC, Rotterdam.
| | - Daphne J Smits
- Department of Clinical Genetics, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jordy Dekker
- Department of Clinical Genetics, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rachel Schot
- Department of Clinical Genetics, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Genetic Neurocognitive Developmental Disorders, Erasmus, MC, Rotterdam
| | - Marie Claire Y de Wit
- Department of Child Neurology, Sophia Children's Hospital, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, Rotterdam, NL, the Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Genetic Neurocognitive Developmental Disorders, Erasmus, MC, Rotterdam
| | - Maarten H Lequin
- Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Marjolein Dremmen
- Department of Radiology, Sophia Children's Hospital, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Genetic Neurocognitive Developmental Disorders, Erasmus, MC, Rotterdam
| | - Alice S Brooks
- Department of Clinical Genetics, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tjakko van Ham
- Department of Clinical Genetics, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Frans W Verheijen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Genetic Neurocognitive Developmental Disorders, Erasmus, MC, Rotterdam
| | - Maarten Fornerod
- Department of Cell Biology, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - William B Dobyns
- Department of Pediatrics (Genetics), University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware Street SE, MMC75, Minneapolis, MN, 55454, USA
| | - Martina Wilke
- Department of Clinical Genetics, ErasmusMC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Genetic Neurocognitive Developmental Disorders, Erasmus, MC, Rotterdam
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25
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Olde Keizer RACM, Henneman L, Ploos van Amstel JK, Vissers LELM, Frederix GWJ. Economic evaluations of exome and genome sequencing in pediatric genetics: considerations towards a consensus strategy. J Med Econ 2021; 24:60-70. [PMID: 34915793 DOI: 10.1080/13696998.2021.2009725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) is increasingly used for the diagnosis of rare genetic disorders. The aim of this study is to review the different approaches for economic evaluations of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) in pediatric care used to date, to identify all costs, effects, and time horizons taken into account. METHODS A systematic literature review was conducted to identify published economic evaluations of NGS applications in pediatric diagnostics, i.e. exome sequencing (ES) and/or genome sequencing (GS). Information regarding methodological approach, costs, effects, and time horizon was abstracted from these publications. RESULTS Twenty-eight economic evaluations of ES/GS within pediatrics were identified. Costs included were mainly restricted to direct in-hospital healthcare costs and varied widely in inclusion of sort of costs and time-horizon. Nineteen studies included diagnostic yield and eight studies included cost-effectiveness as outcome measures. Studies varied greatly in terms of included sort of costs data, effects, and time horizon. CONCLUSION Large differences in inclusion of cost and effect parameters were identified between studies. Validity of outcomes can therefore be questioned, which hinders valid comparison and widespread generalization of conclusions. In addition to current health economic guidance, specific guidance for evaluations in pediatric care is therefore necessary to improve the validity of outcomes and furthermore facilitate comparable decision-making for implementing novel NGS-based diagnostic modalities in pediatric genetics and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richelle A C M Olde Keizer
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Lidewij Henneman
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Lisenka E L M Vissers
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerardus W J Frederix
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Genetics, Utrecht University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Cook CB, Armstrong L, Boerkoel CF, Clarke LA, du Souich C, Demos MK, Gibson WT, Gill H, Lopez E, Patel MS, Selby K, Abu-Sharar Z, Elliott AM, Friedman JM. Somatic mosaicism detected by genome-wide sequencing in 500 parent-child trios with suspected genetic disease: clinical and genetic counseling implications. Cold Spring Harb Mol Case Stud 2021; 7:mcs.a006125. [PMID: 34697084 PMCID: PMC8751411 DOI: 10.1101/mcs.a006125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying genetic mosaicism is important in establishing a diagnosis, assessing recurrence risk, and providing accurate genetic counseling. Next-generation sequencing has allowed for the identification of mosaicism at levels below those detectable by conventional Sanger sequencing or chromosomal microarray analysis. The CAUSES Clinic was a pediatric translational trio-based genome-wide (exome or genome) sequencing study of 500 families (531 children) with suspected genetic disease at BC Children's and Women's Hospitals. Here we present 12 cases of apparent mosaicism identified in the CAUSES cohort: nine cases of parental mosaicism for a disease-causing variant found in a child and three cases of mosaicism in the proband for a de novo variant. In six of these cases, there was no evidence of mosaicism on Sanger sequencing—the variant was not detected on Sanger sequencing in three cases, and it appeared to be heterozygous in three others. These cases are examples of six clinical manifestations of mosaicism: a proband with classical clinical features of mosaicism (e.g., segmental abnormalities of skin pigmentation or asymmetrical growth of bilateral body parts), a proband with unusually mild manifestations of a disease, a mosaic proband who is clinically indistinguishable from the constitutive phenotype, a mosaic parent with no clinical features of the disease, a mosaic parent with mild manifestations of the disease, and a family in which both parents are unaffected and two siblings have the same disease-causing constitutional mutation. Our data demonstrate the importance of considering the possibility of mosaicism whenever exome or genome sequencing is performed and that its detection via genome-wide sequencing can permit more accurate genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney B Cook
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1
| | - Linlea Armstrong
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4H4
| | - Cornelius F Boerkoel
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1
| | - Lorne A Clarke
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1
| | - Christèle du Souich
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4H4
| | - Michelle K Demos
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 0B3
| | - William T Gibson
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4H4
| | - Harinder Gill
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1
| | - Elena Lopez
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1
| | - Millan S Patel
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1
| | - Kathryn Selby
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 0B3
| | - Ziad Abu-Sharar
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 0B3
| | | | - Alison M Elliott
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4H4.,Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 2N9
| | - Jan M Friedman
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6H 3N1.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5Z 4H4
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27
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Pollard S, Weymann D, Dunne J, Mayanloo F, Buckell J, Buchanan J, Wordsworth S, Friedman JM, Stockler-Ipsiroglu S, Dragojlovic N, Elliott AM, Harrison M, Lynd LD, Regier DA. Toward the diagnosis of rare childhood genetic diseases: what do parents value most? Eur J Hum Genet 2021; 29:1491-1501. [PMID: 33903739 PMCID: PMC8484431 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-021-00882-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Genomic testing is becoming routine for diagnosing rare childhood genetic disease. Evidence underlying sustainable implementation is limited, focusing on short-term endpoints such as diagnostic yield, unable to fully characterize patient and family valued outcomes. Although genomic testing is becoming widely available, evidentiary and outcomes uncertainty persist as key challenges for implementation. We examine whether the current evidence base reflects public tolerance for uncertainty for genomics to diagnose rare childhood genetic disease. We conducted focus groups with general population parents in Vancouver, Canada, and Oxford, United Kingdom, to discuss expectations and concerns related to genomic testing to diagnose rare childhood genetic disease. Applying a purposive sampling technique, recruitment continued until thematic saturation was reached. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Thirty-three parents participated across four focus groups. Participants valued causal diagnoses alongside management strategies to improve patient health and wellbeing. Further, participants valued expanding the evidence base to reduce evidentiary uncertainty while ensuring security of information. Willingness to pay out of pocket for testing reflected perceived familial health benefit. Diagnostic yield fails to fully capture valued outcomes, and efforts to resolve uncertainty better reflect public priorities. Evaluations of genomic testing that fully integrate valued endpoints are necessary to ensure consistency with best practices and public willingness to accept the uncertain familial benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Pollard
- Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control, BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Deirdre Weymann
- Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control, BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Jessica Dunne
- Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control, BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Fatemeh Mayanloo
- Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control, BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada
| | - John Buckell
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Population Health, Health Economics Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - James Buchanan
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Population Health, Health Economics Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah Wordsworth
- grid.4991.50000 0004 1936 8948Nuffield Department of Population Health, Health Economics Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jan M. Friedman
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada ,grid.414137.40000 0001 0684 7788BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sylvia Stockler-Ipsiroglu
- grid.414137.40000 0001 0684 7788BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada ,grid.414137.40000 0001 0684 7788Division of Biochemical Genetics, BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Nick Dragojlovic
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Alison M. Elliott
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada ,grid.414137.40000 0001 0684 7788BC Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Mark Harrison
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada ,Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, Providence Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Larry D. Lynd
- grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada ,Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, Providence Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Dean A. Regier
- Canadian Centre for Applied Research in Cancer Control, BC Cancer, Vancouver, Canada ,grid.17091.3e0000 0001 2288 9830School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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Enns EA, Wainstein T, Dragojlovic N, Kopac N, Lynd LD, Elliott AM. Far and wide: Exploring provider utilization of remote service provision for genome-wide sequencing in Canada. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2021; 9:e1784. [PMID: 34532994 PMCID: PMC8580085 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Canada, funding for genome‐wide sequencing (GWS; exome and whole genome) is provincially regulated. We characterized the uptake of GWS by genetics health professionals (GHPs) across Canada and describe how they use remote technologies for patient access to GWS and genomic counseling. Methods We distributed a survey to 574 Canadian GHPs addressing: GWS use, remote technologies (e.g., telephone, videoconferencing) for GWS and provider opinions regarding these technologies. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics. Associations between variables were evaluated using Chi‐square and Fisher's Exact tests for categorical data, and t‐tests or Mann–Whitney U tests for continuous data. Results Of 116 GHPs, 50% reported using GWS in the last year and 57% of GWS users reported using remote technologies. Clinical geneticists who did not use GWS reported lack of provincial funding as the principal reason. Remote technologies were most commonly used for informed consent and results, and rarely used for initial consultations. Average wait times for a GWS appointment were shorter for remote appointments (mean 44.2 (SD 40.2) weeks) than for in‐person (mean 58.2 (SD 42.9), p = 0.036). Conclusion The use of GWS varied across Canada, professional designation, and discipline. Funding remains a barrier to GWS access. Remote technologies increase patient access with reduced wait times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Enns
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tasha Wainstein
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nick Dragojlovic
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicola Kopac
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Larry D Lynd
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, Providence Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alison M Elliott
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Elliott AM, Dragojlovic N, Campbell T, Adam S, Souich CD, Fryer M, Lehman A, Karnebeek CV, Lynd LD, Friedman JM. Utilization of telehealth in paediatric genome-wide sequencing: Health services implementation issues in the CAUSES Study. J Telemed Telecare 2021; 29:318-327. [PMID: 33470133 DOI: 10.1177/1357633x20982737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Genome-wide sequencing (exome or whole genome) is transforming the care and management of paediatric patients with a rare disease because of its diagnostic capabilities. Genome-wide sequencing is most effective when both parents and the child are sequenced as a trio. Genetic counselling is recommended for all families considering genome-wide sequencing. Although telehealth is well established in genetic counselling for hereditary cancer and prenatal genetics, its use with genome-wide sequencing has not been well studied. The CAUSES Clinic at BC Children's and Women's Hospitals was a translational paediatric trio-based genome-wide sequencing initiative. Pre-test genetic counselling via telehealth (at a clinical site near the family's residence) was offered to families who had been previously evaluated by a clinical geneticist. We report on the first 300 families seen in the CAUSES clinic and compare health services implementation issues of families seen via telehealth versus on-site. METHODS Demographics, cost to families (travel and time), time to first appointment, complete trio sample accrual and diagnostic rates were studied. RESULTS Of the 300 patients, 58 (19%) were seen via telehealth and 242 (81%) were seen on-site for pre-test counselling. The mean time to completion of accrual of trio samples in the telehealth group was 56.3 (standard deviation ±87.3) days versus 18.9 (standard deviation ±62.4) days in the onsite group (p < 2.2 × 10-16). The mean per-family estimated actual or potential travel/time cost savings were greater in the telehealth group (Can$987; standard deviation = Can$1151) than for those seen on-site (Can$305; standard deviation = Can$589) (p = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS Telehealth allowed for access to genome-wide sequencing for families in remote communities and for them to avoid significant travel and time costs; however, there was a significant delay to accrual of the complete trio samples in the telehealth group, impacting on time of result reporting and delaying diagnoses for families for whom genome-wide sequencing was diagnostic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison M Elliott
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Women's Health Research Institute, Canada
| | - Nick Dragojlovic
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Teresa Campbell
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Shelin Adam
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada
| | - Christèle du Souich
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada
| | - Michele Fryer
- Office of Virtual Health, Provincial Health Services Authority, Canada
| | - Anna Lehman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada
| | - Clara van Karnebeek
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Emma Children's Hospital, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Larry D Lynd
- Collaboration for Outcomes Research and Evaluation (CORE), University of British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, Providence Health Research Institute, Canada
| | - Jan M Friedman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Canada
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Hayeems RZ, Dimmock D, Bick D, Belmont JW, Green RC, Lanpher B, Jobanputra V, Mendoza R, Kulkarni S, Grove ME, Taylor SL, Ashley E. Clinical utility of genomic sequencing: a measurement toolkit. NPJ Genom Med 2020; 5:56. [PMID: 33319814 PMCID: PMC7738524 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-020-00164-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is positioned to become one of the most robust strategies for achieving timely diagnosis of rare genomic diseases. Despite its favorable diagnostic performance compared to conventional testing strategies, routine use and reimbursement of WGS are hampered by inconsistencies in the definition and measurement of clinical utility. For example, what constitutes clinical utility for WGS varies by stakeholder's perspective (physicians, patients, families, insurance companies, health-care organizations, and society), clinical context (prenatal, pediatric, critical care, adult medicine), and test purpose (diagnosis, screening, treatment selection). A rapidly evolving technology landscape and challenges associated with robust comparative study design in the context of rare disease further impede progress in this area of empiric research. To address this challenge, an expert working group of the Medical Genome Initiative was formed. Following a consensus-based process, we align with a broad definition of clinical utility and propose a conceptually-grounded and empirically-guided measurement toolkit focused on four domains of utility: diagnostic thinking efficacy, therapeutic efficacy, patient outcome efficacy, and societal efficacy. For each domain of utility, we offer specific indicators and measurement strategies. While we focus on diagnostic applications of WGS for rare germline diseases, this toolkit offers a flexible framework for best practices around measuring clinical utility for a range of WGS applications. While we expect this toolkit to evolve over time, it provides a resource for laboratories, clinicians, and researchers looking to characterize the value of WGS beyond the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin Z Hayeems
- Program in Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children and the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - David Dimmock
- Rady Children's Hospital Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - David Bick
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | | | - Robert C Green
- Brigham and Women's Hospital Broad Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Vaidehi Jobanputra
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roberto Mendoza
- The Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shashi Kulkarni
- Baylor Genetics and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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31
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Michaels-Igbokwe C, McInnes B, MacDonald KV, Currie GR, Omar F, Shewchuk B, Bernier FP, Marshall DA. (Un)standardized testing: the diagnostic odyssey of children with rare genetic disorders in Alberta, Canada. Genet Med 2020; 23:272-279. [PMID: 32989270 DOI: 10.1038/s41436-020-00975-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE We provide a description of the diagnostic odyssey for a cohort of children seeking diagnosis of a rare genetic disorder in terms of the time from initial consultation to most recent visit or receipt of diagnosis, the number of tests per patient, and the types of tests received. METHODS Retrospective chart review of 299 children seen at the Alberta Children's Hospital (ACH) Genetics Clinic (GC) for whom the result of at least one single-gene test, gene panel, or chromosome microarray analysis (CMA) was recorded. RESULTS Of 299 patients, 90 (30%) received a diagnosis in the period of the review. Patients had an average of 5.4 tests each; 236 (79%) patients received CMA; 172 (58%) patients received single-gene tests and 34 (11%) received gene panels; 167 (56%) underwent imaging/electrical activity studies. The mean observation period was 898 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 791, 1004). Among patients with visits recorded prior to visiting ACH GC, 43% of the total observation time occurred prior to the GC. CONCLUSION As genomic technologies expand, the nature of the diagnostic odyssey will change. This study has outlined the current standard of care in the ACH GC, providing a baseline against which future changes can be assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Michaels-Igbokwe
- Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. .,Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
| | - Brenda McInnes
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Karen V MacDonald
- Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Gillian R Currie
- Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Fadya Omar
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Brittany Shewchuk
- Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Francois P Bernier
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Deborah A Marshall
- Cumming School of Medicine, Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,O'Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Integration of genetic counsellors in genomic testing triage: Outcomes of a genomic consultation service in British Columbia, Canada. Eur J Med Genet 2020; 64:104024. [PMID: 32798762 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2020.104024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Clinical diagnostic genome-wide (exome or genome) sequencing (GWS) in British Columbia requires funding approval by a provincial agency on a case-by-case basis. The CAUSES Clinic was a pediatric translational trio-based GWS study at BC Children's and Women's Hospitals. Referrals to the CAUSES Clinic were made through a Genomic Consultation Service (GCS), a multidisciplinary team led by genetic counsellors that provided advice regarding genomic testing for physicians considering GWS for their patients. Here we review the outcomes of the GCS, focusing on patients not recommended for the CAUSES Study. METHODS Demographic, clinical, and testing data were abstracted from patient charts. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore associations between demographic and clinical variables and two outcomes: the type of recommendation and referring physicians' decisions to follow the recommendation. RESULTS Of 972 GCS referrals, 248 patients were not referred to the CAUSES Study. GWS (vs. a targeted test; e.g. multi-gene panel) was more likely to be recommended to physicians of patients with ID than physicians of patients without ID (OR = 2.98; 95% CI = 1.46 to 6.27; n = 149). In total, 40% of physicians who were recommended to pursue clinical genomic testing submitted an application for funding approval; 71% of applications were approved for funding. Among approved tests, 50% resulted in a diagnosis, including 33% of targeted tests and 82% of GWS tests (χ2 (1) = 5.0, p = 0.026). CONCLUSION The GCS provided an effective model in which physicians can interface with genetic specialists, including genetic counsellors, to facilitate appropriate genomic test selection.
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Hitchcock EC, Study C, Elliott AM. Shortened consent forms for genome-wide sequencing: Parent and provider perspectives. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2020; 8:e1254. [PMID: 32383361 PMCID: PMC7336726 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.1254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Consent forms for exome and/or genome sequencing, collectively called genome-wide sequencing (GWS), frequently contain detailed information on complex topics such as sequencing analysis and incidental findings. Considering recent endeavors by the health care community to simplify GWS consent forms, it is important to gain stakeholders' perspectives on the content, length, and use of consent forms. METHODS Thematic analysis was conducted on data obtained from focus groups with two participant cohorts: parents who previously provided consent for trio-based GWS as part of the translational pediatric GWS CAUSES Study, and genetic health care providers (HCP) who provide pre-test counseling for GWS. RESULTS Genetic HCP indicated that consent forms cannot replace pre-test counseling, and as such, a simplified consent form focusing on the implications of GWS would be beneficial to both patients and HCP. Although parents' primary concerns varied when considering GWS, they all highly valued information. Parents also indicated the need for community and support after the return of GWS results. Both participant cohorts recommended that consent forms be available online and include an appendix for supplementary information. CONCLUSION It is important to include both parents and HCP in the design of GWS consent forms, and also, to help connect families who have a shared diagnosis after the post-test counseling session.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma C Hitchcock
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Causes Study
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alison M Elliott
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Fahr P, Buchanan J, Wordsworth S. A Review of Health Economic Studies Comparing Traditional and Massively Parallel Sequencing Diagnostic Pathways for Suspected Genetic Disorders. PHARMACOECONOMICS 2020; 38:143-158. [PMID: 31741314 DOI: 10.1007/s40273-019-00856-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Genetic disorders are clinically diverse and genetically heterogeneous, and are traditionally diagnosed based on an iterative phenotype-guided genetic assessment. However, such diagnostic approaches are long (diagnostic odysseys are common), misdiagnoses occur frequently, and diagnostic rates are low. Massively parallel sequencing (MPS) technologies may improve diagnostic rates and reduce the time to diagnosis for patients with suspected genetic disorders; however, MPS technologies are expensive and the health economic evidence base to support their use is limited. Several studies have compared the costs of traditional and MPS diagnostic pathways for patients with suspected genetic disorders, however costing methods and diagnostic scenarios are heterogeneous across studies. We conducted a literature review to identify and summarise information on these costing methods and diagnostic scenarios. Relevant studies were identified in MEDLINE, EMBASE, EconLit, University of York Centre for Reviews and Dissemination and the Cochrane Library, from 2010 to 2018. Twenty-four articles were included in the review. We observed considerable heterogeneity across studies with respect to the selection of items of resource use used to derive total diagnostic pathway cost estimates. We also observed structural differences in the diagnostic scenarios used to compare the traditional and MPS diagnostic pathways. There is a need for guidelines on the costing of diagnostic pathways to encourage the use of consistent methods. More micro-costing studies that evaluate diagnostic service delivery are also required. Greater homogeneity in costing approaches would facilitate more reliable comparisons between studies and improve the transferability of cost estimates across countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Fahr
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK.
| | - James Buchanan
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah Wordsworth
- Health Economics Research Centre, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
- National Institute for Health Research Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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