A modular simulation model for assessing interventions for abdominal aortic aneurysms

This paper discusses the development of an individual based simulation model for evaluation of interventions for better treatment of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). The interdisciplinary subject required collaboration of medical doctors, Health Technology Assessment (HTA) experts and modelers. The here presented modular model structure is flexible enough to allow adaptation on screening research questions for similar diseases. Another focus of the work was integration of risk factors and how it determines our model choice, especially because steadily increasing knowledge about or improved treatment of AAA could cause necessity of reevaluation. Through inclusion of several patient specific properties the model does not only provide comparison of current state with screening but also elaboration of alterations of population characteristics and its consequences on AAA cases.