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# One-time CKD screening at age 55 in Finland: a lifetime cost-effectiveness model
- URL: https://www.coios.me/one-time-ckd-screening-at-age-55-in-finland-a-lifetime-cost/
- Published: 2026-10-26T23:21:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-27T07:06:25.000Z
- Description: Modelled one-time CKD screening of Finns aged 55, plus SGLT2i and RAASi treatment, cost €6,478 per quality-adjusted life year.
- Author: Daniel Ryan
- Tags: Data, models and systems, Value in health, Finland, #peer-reviewed, #confirms, #item, #source-2026-10, #score-60

The study modelled one-time chronic kidney disease (CKD) screening in a simulated Finnish cohort aged 55\. A Markov model compared no screening with eGFR and UACR screening plus SGLT2i and RAASi treatment. Screening added €907 per person in discounted lifetime costs (95% CI €334–2,553). It added 0.14 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) (95% CI 0.07–0.31) and 0.30 life years, at €6,478 per QALY. Dialysis exposure fell from 0.32 to 0.29 patient-years per person, and heart-failure hospital days from 6.69 to 6.47\. The results come from a simulation, not observed screening outcomes, and rest on the model's assumptions.

*Why it is interesting: Most extra cases found by screening were previously undiagnosed early CKD, stages G1 to G3\. The modelled gains include fewer heart-failure hospital days as well as less dialysis.*

Source

[Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 24 October 2026](https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfag252?ref=coios.me)

Paper

Long-term cost-effectiveness of CKD screening in middle-aged adults

Authors

Jalkanen K, Aku-Ville L, Piia L, Jari H, Emmi R, Piia K et al.

DOI

10.1093/ndt/gfag252

Type

Peer-reviewed article

Design

Cohort-based Markov cost-utility model, lifetime horizon, Finnish cohort aged 55, one-time eGFR/UACR screening vs no screening

Verdict

Confirms prior evidence

Driver

[Value in health](https://www.coios.me/d-health-economics/)

Free full text

[Free to read at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfag252?ref=coios.me)

Abstract — the authors' own words, CC BY

Background and hypothesis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in Finland and frequently remains undiagnosed until advanced stages. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) slow CKD progression and reduce cardio-renal events when used in addition to Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System inhibitor (RAASi) treatment. We hypothesized that a one-time CKD screening program using measurements of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), followed by SGLT2i and RAASi treatment for identified CKD, would be cost-effective in Finland. Methods

We developed a cohort-based Markov model to simulate lifetime CKD progression in a Finnish cohort aged 55 years under two strategies: (1) current practice (no screening) and (2) one-time screening with follow-up and SGLT2i and RAASi treatment for screen-positive CKD (eGFR Results

Screening increased discounted lifetime costs per person by €907 (95% CI €334-2 553) and QALYs by 0.14 (95% CI 0.07-0.31), yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €6 478/QALY. Screening increased life years by 0.30\. Screening reduced acute kidney function decline (0.88 vs 0.90 events/person), heart-failure hospital days (6.47 vs 6.69 days/person), dialysis exposure (0.29 vs 0.32 patient-years/person) and transplant exposure (0.13 vs 0.14 patient-years/person). Conclusions

In Finns aged 55 years, one-time CKD screening with eGFR/UACR followed by SGLT2i and RAASi treatment improves long-term outcomes and is likely cost-effective.