Economic and medical benefits of ultrasound screenings for gallstone disease

Table 1 Cost assumptions, utility value, transition probabilities in decision analysis of screening for gallstone disease

Parameter	Value
Annual direct cost (NTD)
Screening cost1	1382
Regular clinics fee2	509
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy	11710
Hospitalizations and others	26825
Total	40426
Annual indirect cost (NTD)
Gross domestic product	635670
Utility (quality of life) value
No GSD	0.92 ± 0.10
Single stone	0.90 ± 0.12
Multiple stones	0.89 ± 0.19
Cholecystectomy	0.88 ± 0.08
Annual transition probability (%)[9]
No GSD → Single stone	5.05
Single stone → Multiple stones	10.00
Multiple stones → Cholecystectomy	13.76

¹Screening cost includes clinician’s fee, ultrasound examination, SMA-12 test, and manpower cost;

²Regular clinics fee includes clinician’s fee and pharmacist’s fee. GSD: Gallstone disease; NTD: New Taiwan dollars.