The cost-utility of left ventricular assist devices for end-stage heart failure patients ineligible for cardiac transplantation: a systematic review and critical appraisal of economic evaluations

BACKGROUND

A health technology assessment (HTA) of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) as destination therapy in patients with end-stage heart failure was commissioned by the Dutch Health Care Insurance Board [College voor Zorgverzekeringen (CVZ)]. In this context, a systematic review of the economic literature was performed to assess the procedure's value for money.

METHODS

A systematic search (updated in December 2013) for economic evaluations was performed by consulting various databases: the HTA database produced by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD HTA), websites of HTA institutes, CRD's National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED), Medline (OVID) and EMBASE. No time or language restrictions were imposed and pre-defined selection criteria were used. The two-step selection procedure was performed by two people. References of the selected studies were checked for additional relevant citations.

RESULTS

Six relevant studies were selected. Four economic evaluations relied on the results of the REMATCH trial to compare a pulsatile-flow LVAD with optimal medical therapy (OMT). These evaluations were performed before the publication of the HeartMate II (HM-II) Destination Therapy Trial which compared a pulsatile-flow with a continuous-flow LVAD. Two more recent economic evaluations combined the results of both trials to make an indirect comparison of a continuous-flow LVAD with OMT. In all studies, the largest part of the incremental cost was due to the reimplantation cost of an LVAD, with a device cost of €58,000-€75,000 and about €55,000 for the surgical procedure. The survival gain was highest with a continuous-flow LVAD, up to about three life-years gained (LYG) versus OMT in the most optimistic study. Quality of life (QoL) was improved but measures with a generic utility instrument were lacking, making estimates on quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained more uncertain. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of the two most recent studies were on average €107,600 and $198,184 (ca.€145,800) per QALY gained.

CONCLUSIONS

Although LVAD destination therapy improves survival and QoL, it remains questionable as to whether it offers value for money. This conclusion may alter if the price of the device/procedure decreases sufficiently, in combination with further improved outcomes for mortality, adverse events and QoL.

Cost-effectiveness of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices

OBJECTIVES

Mechanical circulatory support through left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) improves survival and quality of life for patients with end-stage heart failure who are ineligible for cardiac transplantation. Our aim was to calculate the cost-effectiveness of continuous-flow LVADs.

METHODS

A cost-utility analysis from a societal perspective was performed. A lifetime Markov model was set up in which continuous-flow LVAD was compared with optimal medical therapy (OMT). The treatment effect was modeled indirectly combining the results of the REMATCH trial comparing OMT with a pulsatile-flow LVAD and the HeartMate II Destination Therapy Trial comparing a pulsatile-flow LVAD with a continuous-flow LVAD. Cost data were based on real-world financial data of sixty-nine patients with a HeartMate II implantation from the University Medical Centre Utrecht (the Netherlands). One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.

RESULTS

Comparing the continuous-flow HeartMate II with OMT, 3.23 (95 percent confidence interval [CI], 2.18-4.49) life-years were gained (LYG) or 2.83 (95 percent CI, 1.91-3.90) quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). The cost of an LVAD implant was approximately €126,000, of which the device itself represented the largest cost, being €70,000. Total incremental costs amounted to €299,100 (95 percent CI, 190,500-521,000). This resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of €94,100 (95 percent CI, 59,100-160,100) per LYG or €107,600 (95 percent CI, 66,700-181,100) per QALY. Sensitivity analyses showed these results were robust.

CONCLUSIONS

Although LVAD destination therapy improves survival and quality of life, it remains a relatively expensive intervention which renders the reimbursement of this therapy questionable.

Is anti-platelet therapy needed in continuous flow left ventricular assist device patients? A single-centre experience

OBJECTIVES

We report our 5-year experience of continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation without the use of anti-platelet therapy.

METHODS

Between February 2006 and September 2011, 27 patients (26 men; 1 woman) were implanted with a continuous flow LVAD (HeartMate II, Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA, USA). The mean age was 55.7 ± 9.9 years. The mean duration of support was 479 ± 436 (1-1555) days with 35.4 patient-years on support. Twenty-one patients were implanted as a bridge to transplantation and 6 for destination therapy. The anticoagulation regimen was fluindione for all patients, with aspirin for only 4 patients. At the beginning of our experience, aspirin was administered to 4 patients for 6, 15, 60 and 460 days. Due to gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding and epistaxis, aspirin was discontinued, and since August 2006, no patients have received anti-platelet therapy.

RESULTS

At 3 years, the survival rate during support was 76%. The most common postoperative adverse event was GI bleeding (19%) and epistaxis (30%) (median time: 26 days) for patients receiving fluindione and aspirin. The mean International Normalized Ratio (INR) was 2.58 ± 0.74 during support. Fifteen patients have been tested for acquired Von Willebrand disease. A diminished ratio of collagen-binding capacity and ristocetin cofactor activity to Von Willebrand factor antigen was observed in 7 patients. In the postoperative period, 2 patients presented with ischaemic stroke at 1 and 8 months. One of these 2 patients had a previous history of carotid stenosis with ischaemic stroke. There were no patients with haemorrhagic stroke, transient ischaemic attack or pump thrombosis. The event rate of stroke (ischaemic and haemorrhagic) per patient-year was 0.059 among the patients without aspirin with fluindione regimen only.

CONCLUSIONS

A fluindione regimen without aspirin in long-duration LVAD support appears to not increase thromboembolic events and could lead to a diminished risk of haemorrhagic stroke.

Concise review: heart regeneration and the role of cardiac stem cells

Acute myocardial infarction leads to irreversible loss of cardiac myocytes, thereby diminishing the pump function of the heart. As a result, the strenuous workload imposed on the remaining cardiac myocytes often gives rise to subsequent cell loss until the vicious circle ends in chronic heart failure (CHF). Thus, we are in need of a therapy that could ameliorate or even reverse the disease progression of CHF. Endogenous regeneration of the mammalian heart has been shown in the neonatal heart, and the discovery that it may still persist in adulthood sparked hope for novel cardioregenerative therapies. As the basis for cardiomyocyte renewal, multipotent cardiac stem/progenitor cells (CSCs) that reside in the heart have been shown to differentiate into cardiac myocytes, smooth muscle cells, and vascular endothelial cells. These CSCs do have the potential to actively regenerate the heart but clearly fail to do so after abundant and segmental loss of cells, such as what occurs with myocardial infarction. Therefore, it is vital to continue research for the most optimal therapy based on the use or in situ stimulation of these CSCs. In this review, we discuss the current status of the cardioregenerative field. In particular, we summarize the current knowledge of CSCs as the regenerative substrate in the adult heart and their use in preclinical and clinical studies to repair the injured myocardium.

Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device support in patients with advanced heart failure: points of interest for the daily management

Today, continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (cf-LVADs) are implanted more often in patients with end-stage heart failure. Because of greater durability they can be implanted for an extended period of time. As a result of increased numbers of patients on cf-LVAD support, healthcare professionals should be aware of the potential complications inherent to this therapy. Both bleeding and thrombosis may occur, and also complications related either to the device itself or to the ensuing altered haemodynamics, valvular pathology, and rhythm disturbances such as ventricular tachycardias and fibrillation. Accurate clinical evaluation, together with an electrocardiogram and, if necessary, combined with an echocardiogram, is obligatory in these situations. This review summarizes common complications complemented by a few clinical cases.

Functional and haemodynamic recovery after implantation of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices in comparison with pulsatile left ventricular assist devices in patients with end-stage heart failure

AIMS

Caused by ageing of the population, better survival from ischaemic heart disease, and improved treatment of chronic heart disease, the incidence of heart failure has increased enormously. Worldwide, left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly being used as a bridge or alternative to heart transplantation. In this study, we investigated whether there is difference in functional and haemodynamic recovery after implantation of pulsatile and continuous-flow pumps.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We compared laboratory and echocardiographic data and exercise performance in patients with end-stage heart failure, before and 3 months after implantation of pulsatile and continuous-flow LVADs. A significant improvement in all laboratory parameters after implantation of both types of LVADs was seen, as well as a significant decrease in heart rate and LV dimensions, indicating better haemodynamics and cardiac recompensation. This improvement was better for the pulsatile device, probably due to higher plasma levels and higher LV dimensions before implantation. Exercise capacity strongly improved: 3 months after implantation of pulsatile and continuous-flow LVADs, peak VO(2) was 20.2 ± 4.8 vs. 18.3 ± 4.8 mL/kg/min (P = 0.09) (53 ± 12 vs. 49 ± 11% of predicted for age and gender) (P = 0.28).

CONCLUSION

Pulsatile and continuous-flow LVADs result in extensive haemodynamic recovery and exercise performance compatible with daily life activities. Exercise performance with continuous-flow LVADs is equal to that with pulsatile devices. This, in combination with improved survival of the newer devices, allows its use as an alternative to heart transplantation in selected patients.