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Methods Inf Med 2017; 56(03): 268-273
DOI: 10.3414/ME16-01-0082
Paper
Schattauer GmbH

Genetic Testing for Autism Spectrum Disorder is Lacking Evidence of Cost-effectiveness[*]

A Systematic Review
Andreas Ziegler
1   Institut für Medizinische Biometrie und Statistik, Universität zu Lübeck, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
2   ZKS Lübeck, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
3   School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
,
Wolfgang Rudolph-Rothfeld
1   Institut für Medizinische Biometrie und Statistik, Universität zu Lübeck, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
,
Reinhard Vonthein
1   Institut für Medizinische Biometrie und Statistik, Universität zu Lübeck, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
2   ZKS Lübeck, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received: 28 June 2016

accepted in revised form: 30 February 2016

Publication Date:
24 January 2018 (online)

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Summary

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a highly heritable neural development disorder characterized by social impairment. The earlier the diagnosis is made, the higher are the chances of obtaining relief of symptoms. A very early diagnosis uses molecular genetic tests, which are also offered commercially.

Objective: Systematic review of the economic impact of genetic tests in ASD.

Methods: We performed a systematic search of databases Pubmed, Medline, Cochrane, Econlit and the NHS Center for Reviews and Dissemination for articles in English and German from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2015. Original articles published in peer- reviewed journals were screened in a two- step process. First, we focused our search on economic evaluations of genetic tests for ASD. Second, we searched for any economic evaluation (EE) of genetic tests.

Results: We identified 185 EE of genetic tests for various diseases. However, not a single EE of genetic tests has been found for ASD. The outcomes used in the EE of the genetic tests were heterogeneous, and results were generally not comparable.

Conclusion: There is no evidence for cost-effectiveness of any genetic diagnostic test for ASD, although such genetic tests are available commercially. Cost-effectiveness analyses for genetic diagnostic tests for ASD are urgently required. There is a clear lack in research for EE of genetic tests.

Keywords

Autism - ASD - genetic test - cost-effectiveness - JEL Classification I11

* Supplementary material published on our website https://doi.org/10.3414/ME16-01-0082


 

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