Skip to main content
Article
Careful Selection of Candidates for Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device Is Crucial
American Health & Drug Benefits
  • Raymond L Singer, MD, Lehigh Valley Health Network
Publication/Presentation Date
3-1-2013
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The economic burden of heart disease is heavy and growing. As advanced technologies for treating heart disease become available, decision makers need to be able to assess the relative value of such options against existing standards of care.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the clinical and economic benefits of a percutaneous ventricular assist device (pVAD) versus an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) observed during the 90-day duration of the PROTECT II clinical trial, and to supplement these findings with a simulation of the longer-term value of this technology through the use of a Markov model to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness of a pVAD relative to an IABP, in terms of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

METHODS: Hospital bills were collected for patients enrolled in the PROTECT II trial who received hemodynamic support for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) provided by a pVAD (Impella 2.5) versus a conventional IABP during a 90-day episode of care (EOC). Length of stay, charges, and costs were analyzed for the index admissions, intensive care unit confinements, readmissions, and overall EOC. In addition, a probabilistic Markov model was used to project these parameters and their impact on a patient's quality of life for up to 10 years in relation to a pVAD versus an IABP.

RESULTS: Hospital costs for the index admission were lower for the IABP compared with the pVAD ($33,684 vs $47,667; P

CONCLUSIONS: For high-risk patients with advanced heart failure undergoing PCI, the new pVAD reduced major adverse events, critical care and readmission length of stay, and readmission cost over the 90-day EOC, and was determined to be cost-effective over the long-term. These findings can assist decision makers in forming value-based judgments with regard to new hemodynamic support strategies.

Comments

Dr. Singer's article is located at the end of D. Gregory's article and begins on page 98; please scroll down to see his "Stakeholder's Perspective."

PubMedID
24991349
Document Type
Article
Citation Information

Singer, R. L. (2013). Careful Selection of Candidates for Percutaneous Ventricular Assist Device Is Crucial. American Health & Drug Benefits, 6(2), 98-99.