TY - JOUR
T1 - Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy in Patients with Atrioventricular Nodal Disease and Reduced Ejection Fraction - Can We Afford it?
AU - Pathik, Manaswi
AU - Mathew, Thomas
AU - Chahadi, Fahd
AU - Sutton, Kaye
AU - McGavigan, Andrew
PY - 2015/4/1
Y1 - 2015/4/1
N2 - Background: Recent pacing guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology recommend cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) in patients with an atrioventricular (AV) nodal pacing indication and reduced ejection fraction (EF). However, concerns over added expenditure may limit its widespread implementation. We investigate the potential incremental cost of biventricular over right ventricular pacing if such a practice was adopted. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed of devices implanted over eight years. The database was analysed for device type, pacing indication and EF. Cost analysis was performed. Results: 1751 devices were implanted over eight years at an averaged cost of AUD$1,369,125 per year. 172 with CRT were excluded. 25.4 (11.6%) patients per year had an EF≤50% and AV nodal disease. 18.4 were in sinus rhythm (SR) and 7.0 in atrial fibrillation (AF). Of these, 13.5 (6.2%) had EF≤45% (9.9 SR, 3.6 AF) and 8.2 (3.8%) had EF≤35% (5.6 SR, 2.6 AF). Based on an incremental cost of $4,000 per device, if all patients with EF≤50% received CRT, the total cost increment per year equates to $73,500 for SR patients or $101,500 if AF patients were included. In patients with EF≤35% and EF≤45%, this amounts to $22,500 and $39,500 per year for SR patients respectively or $33,000 and $54,000 per year if AF patients were included. Depending on the EF and rhythm, this represents a 1.6% to 7.4% increase per year in the pacing budget for an increased patient population of between 2.6% (EF≤35% in SR) to 11.6% (EF≤50%). Conclusion: A small proportion of additional patients will qualify for CRT based on the chosen cut-off and rhythm. Although the individual incremental cost for biventricular over right ventricular pacing is high in patients with AV nodal disease and reduced EF, overall this represents at most, a modest increase in the total pacing budget.
AB - Background: Recent pacing guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology recommend cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) in patients with an atrioventricular (AV) nodal pacing indication and reduced ejection fraction (EF). However, concerns over added expenditure may limit its widespread implementation. We investigate the potential incremental cost of biventricular over right ventricular pacing if such a practice was adopted. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed of devices implanted over eight years. The database was analysed for device type, pacing indication and EF. Cost analysis was performed. Results: 1751 devices were implanted over eight years at an averaged cost of AUD$1,369,125 per year. 172 with CRT were excluded. 25.4 (11.6%) patients per year had an EF≤50% and AV nodal disease. 18.4 were in sinus rhythm (SR) and 7.0 in atrial fibrillation (AF). Of these, 13.5 (6.2%) had EF≤45% (9.9 SR, 3.6 AF) and 8.2 (3.8%) had EF≤35% (5.6 SR, 2.6 AF). Based on an incremental cost of $4,000 per device, if all patients with EF≤50% received CRT, the total cost increment per year equates to $73,500 for SR patients or $101,500 if AF patients were included. In patients with EF≤35% and EF≤45%, this amounts to $22,500 and $39,500 per year for SR patients respectively or $33,000 and $54,000 per year if AF patients were included. Depending on the EF and rhythm, this represents a 1.6% to 7.4% increase per year in the pacing budget for an increased patient population of between 2.6% (EF≤35% in SR) to 11.6% (EF≤50%). Conclusion: A small proportion of additional patients will qualify for CRT based on the chosen cut-off and rhythm. Although the individual incremental cost for biventricular over right ventricular pacing is high in patients with AV nodal disease and reduced EF, overall this represents at most, a modest increase in the total pacing budget.
KW - Atrioventricular nodal disease
KW - Biventricular pacing
KW - Cardiac resynchronisation therapy
KW - Heart failure
KW - Right ventricular pacing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84924985129&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.hlc.2014.11.004
DO - 10.1016/j.hlc.2014.11.004
M3 - Article
SN - 1443-9506
VL - 24
SP - 354
EP - 358
JO - Heart, Lung and Circulation
JF - Heart, Lung and Circulation
IS - 4
ER -