Cost Effectiveness of Biventricular Pacemakers in Heart Failure Patients

Authors: Heerey, Adrienne¹; Lauer, Michael²; AlSolaiman, Firas²; Czerr, Jennifer²; James, Karen²

Source: American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs, Volume 6, Number 2, 2006 , pp. 129-137(9)

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Abstract:

Background: Biventricular pacemakers have been shown to reduce mortality and hospitalizations in heart failure (HF) patients and are indicated for those with a New York Heart Association functional class of III or IV and a QRS interval of >130ms. However, these devices currently cost in the region of $US33 500 and require replacement upon battery depletion. Therefore, determination of the cost effectiveness of resynchronization therapy is important, although little data have been published to date on this topic.

Methods and results: A cost-utility analysis from the healthcare perspective was performed using HF patients who received a biventricular pacing device in the Cleveland Clinic Foundation. The comparator was a similarly profiled group of patients who did not receive the device but were treated medically. A Markov model was used to investigate the cost effectiveness at 1 and 5 years. Second-order Monte-Carlo simulation was used to determine the variability in results, using probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Medical treatment was dominated by biventricular pacemaker treatment at both 1 and 5 years of follow-up.

Conclusion: Biventricular device insertion is an economically attractive treatment option for clinically indicated HF patients.

Keywords: Cardiac pacing devices; Congestive heart failure; Cost effectiveness

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: 1 Department of Medicine, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland 2: 2 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

Publication date: 2006-01-01