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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Several countries have included medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD) in their newborn screening programs. However, the sensitivity of the programs cannot be estimated directly as only individuals with a positive result undergo a definitive diagnostic test. We propose a framework to overcome this limitation and estimate the prevalence of disease, sensitivity of screening, and its yield relative to no screening. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A Bayesian model simultaneously combined available prevalence data on the most common mutation of MCADD (c.985A>G) in screened and nonscreened populations using the relationship between true and apparent prevalence of disease. Data originated from screening pilots in England, disease surveillance studies, and published literature. Model validity and consistency were formally checked. RESULTS: True prevalence of c.985A>G homozygotes in England was 6.2 per 100,000 individuals, and the sensitivity of the screening program was 94% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 74, 100%) compared with a detection rate in nonscreened areas of 48% (95% CI: 30, 68%) by age of 5 years. Hence, the screening program detected 47% (95% CI: 30, 60%) additional cases compared with no screening. CONCLUSION: The sensitivity of the screening program in England was high and our estimation approach could be adapted to inform other jurisdictions, rare diseases, and newborn screening programs.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.jclinepi.2014.05.011

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Clin Epidemiol

Publication Date

10/2014

Volume

67

Pages

1131 - 1138

Keywords

Inborn errors of metabolism, MCADD, Medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, Screening, Sensitivity, Tandem mass spectrometry, Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase, Adolescent, Bayes Theorem, Child, Child, Preschool, England, Homozygote, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Lipid Metabolism, Inborn Errors, Neonatal Screening, Prevalence, Program Evaluation, Sensitivity and Specificity