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Geographically-based screening policies for diabetic retinopathy (DR) can be effective in developing teleretinal imaging (TRI) guidelines while identifying patients with limited geographic access to eye care. This study conducts cost-effectiveness analysis of different screening policies for urban and rural diabetic patients in Western Pennsylvania. A Monte Carlo simulation model was used to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of 2 standardized screening policies (annual clinic-based screening (ACS) and annual TRI-based screening (ATRI)) and a personalized TRI-based screening policy (PTRI) for both urban and rural cohorts. PTRI was generated by a previously developed mathematical model that autonomously makes semi-annual screening recommendations based on each patient’s disease progression and compliance (Dorali et al. IOVS 2022; 63(7)). For each policy, hypothetical urban and rural cohorts of 50,000 patients were simulated and lifetime QALYs and costs were collected for each patient. TRI compliance rates were derived from electronic medical records. Compliance with clinic-based screening was selected from literature-based values (12-45% for rural patients and 50-65% for urban patients). For a base case urban cohort with an A1C level of 7% and entering age of 40, costs per QALY gain (CPQ) for ACS, ATRI, and PTRI were $744.93±1.57, $792.38±1.64, and $714.60±1.56, respectively; PTRI produced more cost saving than ACS with the same QALY gain (See Fig 1). For a base case rural cohort, CPQ for ACS, ATRI, and PTRI were $869.15±1.80, $819.24±1.88, and $761.51±1.42, respectively; both ATRI and PTRI dominated ACS in QALY gains and cost saving (Fig 1). PTRI recommended TRI more to rural patients (94.13±0.01%) than to urban patients (87.20±0.02%). For the rural cohort, the minimum average TRI compliance rate such that ATRI is more cost-effective than ACS was 56% (Fig 2). TRI-based screening was found more beneficial for rural patients. PTRI was found dominant in QALY gain and cost saving for both urban and rural cohorts against standardized policies. These findings suggest that TRI is best utilized when location-specific factors such as geographic access to care or TRI compliance are considered.
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This content will become publicly available on October 14, 2026
Reimagining dementia screening: A stakeholder-informed perspective on artificial intelligence, digital biomarkers, and real-world implementation
The approval of disease-modifying treatments for Alzheimer's disease demands a rethinking of cognitive screening. Drawing on over 180 stakeholder interviews from the NSF National I-Corps program, this perspective highlights barriers in current workflows, from time constraints in primary care to learning effects in long-term care, and presents innovation pathways centered on AI and digital biomarkers. Speech analysis, in particular, offers a scalable and cost-effective screening tool aligned with existing CPT codes. We outline implementation strategies and emphasize the urgent opportunity to align technological innovation with frontline clinical needs to ensure advances translate into meaningful patient and provider benefit.
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- PAR ID:
- 10648571
- Publisher / Repository:
- SAGE
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Alzheimer's Disease Reports
- Volume:
- 9
- ISSN:
- 2542-4823
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Alzheimer’s disease artificial intelligence digital technology delivery of health care
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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