Purpose: Residential exposure to radon is considered as the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. The purpose of this study was to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of reducing the indoor radon levels in Sweden from the current reference level of 200 Bq/m3 to the WHO suggested reference level of maximum 100 Bq/m3.
Methods: We constructed a decision-analytic cost-effectiveness model using input data from published literature and administrative records. The model compared the increase in economic costs to the health benefits of lower indoor radon-levels in a Swedish policy context. We estimated the cost per life-year and quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained and assessed the robustness of the results using both deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis.
Results: Including (excluding) costs of added life years the cost per QALY for existing homes was €130,000 (€99,000). For new homes the cost per QALY including (excluding) costs of added life years was €39,000 (€25,000).
Conclusions: The results indicate that it is not cost-effective to reduce indoor radon levels from 200 Bq/m3 to a maximum of 100 Bq/m3 in existing homes, whereas it is cost-effective for new homes.
Keywords: Cost-effectiveness analysis; Lung cancer; Prevention; Radon.
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