Brandsæter Ingrid Øfsti, Porthun Jan, Andersen Eivind Richter, Hofmann Bjørn Morten, Kjelle Elin
Department of Health Sciences Gjøvik at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Gjøvik, PB 191, Gjøvik, 2802, Norway.
Centre for Medical Ethics at the University of Oslo, Blindern, Oslo, PB, Norway.
Res Health Serv Reg. 2025 May 21;4(1):6. doi: 10.1007/s43999-025-00065-1.
To investigate the variations in the use of neuroimaging over time and across geographical regions and to investigate the use of two potential low-value neuroimaging examinations for all imaging in an entire country (Norway), including both inpatient and outpatient services from 2013 to 2022.
Data on neuroimaging for outpatients was collected from the Norwegian Health Economics Administration, and inpatient data were collected from individual Hospital Trusts (HT) in Norway. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics.
On average, 413,303 (786 per 10,000 inhabitants) neuroimaging examinations were performed annually in Norway. Overall, the use increased by 16% during the study period. Substantial geographical variations were found both in general and for the two potential low-value neuroimaging examinations; Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Head Computed Tomography (CT). For general neuroimaging, the HT with the highest use performed twice as many examinations as the HT with the lowest use per inhabitant. For the potential low-value neuroimaging examinations, the HTs with the highest use performed two and three times as many examinations as the HTs with the lowest use per inhabitant.
There was temporal and geographical variation in the general use of neuroimaging and the use of the two potential low-value examinations, Brain MRI and Head CT. In Norway, the estimated annual cost of low-value neuroimaging examinations is about EUR 4.0 million. Reducing the use of low-value imaging would free up resources for examinations of high value.
调查神经影像学检查的使用随时间和地理区域的变化情况，并调查在整个国家（挪威）所有影像学检查中两种潜在的低价值神经影像学检查的使用情况，包括2013年至2022年的住院和门诊服务。
门诊神经影像学检查数据来自挪威卫生经济管理局，住院数据来自挪威各医院信托机构（HT）。使用描述性统计方法对数据进行分析。
挪威每年平均进行413,303次神经影像学检查（每10,000居民786次）。总体而言，在研究期间使用量增加了16%。在一般情况以及两种潜在的低价值神经影像学检查（脑磁共振成像（MRI）和头部计算机断层扫描（CT））方面都发现了显著的地理差异。对于一般神经影像学检查，使用量最高的HT进行的检查次数是使用量最低的HT的两倍（按居民计算）。对于潜在的低价值神经影像学检查，使用量最高的HT进行的检查次数是使用量最低的HT的两倍和三倍（按居民计算）。
神经影像学检查的总体使用以及两种潜在的低价值检查（脑MRI和头部CT）的使用存在时间和地理差异。在挪威，低价值神经影像学检查的估计年度成本约为400万欧元。减少低价值影像学检查的使用将为高价值检查腾出资源。
