Cost-utility Analysis, Cost-effectiveness Analysis, Budget Impact Analysis

Cardiovascular pathologies (CV), the second leading cause of death just behind tumors, are particularly frequent in France and strongly mobilize the resources of the healthcare system (ambulatory and health facility). The French High Authority for Health (HAS) has defined major cardio-vascular risk factors (CVRF): smoking, high blood pressure (hypertension), elevated total cholesterol (TC) or LDL, decreased HDL cholesterol, type II diabetes and age, and predisposing CVRF or discussed: obesity, sedentary lifestyle, menopause, elevation of triglycerides and genetic factors.

Lower-linb peripherial arterial disease (AOMI), even if asymptomatic, involves systemic atherial disease, responsible for mortality irrespective of the presence of CVRF. The prevalence of asymptomatic AOMI is 10 to 20% beyond 55 years old, and the associated mortality is 18 to 30% at 5 years.

Individual screening is achievable by well-conducted clinical evaluation and systematic measurement of the simple, non-invasive Blood Pressure Index (BPI) in all subjects at risk. A BPI<0.9 indicates an event risk close to that of the symptomatic patient. However, if this strategy is recommended by the HAS, it is not carried out systematically in current practice. Therapeutic means available for the management of an asymptomatic AOMI are the identification and support for controllable CVRF such as smoking and nutrition (diet and physical activity) in the context of secondary prevention of atherosclerosis. Thus, the generalization of a systematique screening strategy of AOMI, allowing faster handling of CVRF by advices and Motivational Interviewing (MI), could have a significant impact, both clinically and economically.

Patients could also benefit from this support in terms of quality of life both on the physiological dimension (effect of weight loss, correction of disorders of cardiac function, etc.), that on the psychic dimension (well-being of patients, management of disorders anxious). However, few studies have evaluated the benefit of such a strategy in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs),none did it on a cost recovery basis. No such studies have been conducted in France.

The feasibility of this project is based on the success of a pilot study conducted in Centre-Val de Loire region (France) in 2013. It showed that the implementation of a strategy of systematic screening of the asymptomatic AOMI based on the measurement of the BPI in high cardiovascular risk patients is feasible in current practice by general practitioners, and could be more efficient than interventions performed in current practice.