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Buja A, Rebba V, Montecchio L, Renzo G, Baldo V, Cocchio S, Ferri N, Migliore F, Zorzi A, Collins B, Amrouch C, De Smedt D, Kypridemos C, Petrovic M, O'Flaherty M, Lip GYH. The Cost of Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review. VALUE IN HEALTH : THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PHARMACOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2024; 27:527-541. [PMID: 38296049 DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2023.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with an increasing incidence and prevalence because of progressively aging populations. Costs related to AF are both direct and indirect. This systematic review aims to identify the main cost drivers of the illness, assess the potential economic impact resulting from changes in care strategies, and propose interventions where they are most needed. METHODS A systematic literature search of the PubMed and Scopus databases was performed to identify analytical observational studies defining the cost of illness in cases of AF. The search strategy was based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 recommendations. RESULTS Of the 944 articles retrieved, 24 met the inclusion criteria. These studies were conducted in several countries. All studies calculated the direct medical costs, whereas 8 of 24 studies assessed indirect costs. The median annual direct medical cost per patient, considering all studies, was €9409 (13 333 US dollars in purchasing power parities), with a very large variability due to the heterogeneity of different analyses. Hospitalization costs are generally the main cost drivers. Comorbidities and complications, such as stroke, considerably increase the average annual direct medical cost of AF. CONCLUSIONS In most of the analyzed studies, inpatient care cost represents the main component of the mean direct medical cost per patient. Stroke and heart failure are responsible for a large share of the total costs; therefore, implementing guidelines to manage comorbidities in AF is a necessary step to improve health and mitigate healthcare costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Buja
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Rebba
- Department of Economics and Management "Marco Fanno," University of Padua and Interuniversity Research Centre of Public Economics (CRIEP), Padua, Italy.
| | - Laura Montecchio
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Giulia Renzo
- Department of Economics and Management "Marco Fanno," University of Padua Italy
| | - Vincenzo Baldo
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Cocchio
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferri
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Federico Migliore
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Zorzi
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Italy
| | - Brendan Collins
- Department of Public Health, Policy & Systems - Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, England, UK
| | - Cheïma Amrouch
- Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Ghent University, Belgium; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Delphine De Smedt
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Christodoulos Kypridemos
- Department of Public Health, Policy & Systems - Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, England, UK
| | - Mirko Petrovic
- Department of Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Martin O'Flaherty
- Department of Public Health, Policy & Systems - Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, England, UK; Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, UK
| | - Gregory Y H Lip
- Liverpool Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, England, UK; Danish Center for Health Services Research, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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Sussman M, Barnes GD, Guo JD, Tao CY, Gillespie JA, Ferri M, Adair N, Cato MS, Shirkhorshidian I, Di Fusco M. The burden of undertreatment and non-treatment among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and elevated stroke risk: a systematic review. Curr Med Res Opin 2022; 38:7-18. [PMID: 34632887 DOI: 10.1080/03007995.2021.1982684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Global treatment guidelines recommend treatment with oral anticoagulants (OACs) for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and an elevated stroke risk. However, not all patients with NVAF and an elevated stroke risk receive guideline-recommended therapy. A literature review and synthesis of observational studies were undertaken to identify the body of evidence on untreated and undertreated NVAF and the association with clinical and economic outcomes. METHODS An extensive search (1/2010-4/2020) of MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, conference proceedings, and health technology assessments (HTAs) was conducted. Studies must have evaluated rates of nontreatment or undertreatment in NVAF. Nontreatment was defined as absence of OACs (but with possible antiplatelet treatment), while undertreatment was defined as treatment with only antiplatelet agents. RESULTS Sixteen studies met our inclusion criteria. Rates of nontreatment for patients with elevated stroke risk ranged from 2.0-51.1%, while rates of undertreatment ranged from 10.0-45.1%. The clinical benefits of anticoagulation were reported in the evaluated studies with reductions in stroke and mortality outcomes observed among patients treated with anticoagulants compared to untreated or undertreated patients. Adverse events associated with all bleeding types (i.e. hemorrhagic stroke, major bleeding or gastrointestinal hemorrhaging) were found to be higher for warfarin patients compared to untreated patients in real-world practice. Healthcare resource utilization was found to be lower among patients highly-adherent to warfarin compared to untreated patients. CONCLUSIONS Rates of nontreatment and undertreatment among NVAF patients remain high and are associated with preventable cardiovascular events and death. Strategies to increase rates of treatment may improve clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Sussman
- Modeling and Strategy Services, Panalgo LLC, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Jennifer D Guo
- Patient and Health Impact, Bristol Myers Squibb, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Charles Y Tao
- Modeling and Strategy Services, Panalgo LLC, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Mauricio Ferri
- Patient and Health Impact, Bristol Myers Squibb, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Nicholas Adair
- Modeling and Strategy Services, Panalgo LLC, Boston, MA, USA
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Vemmos K, Boubouchairopoulou N, Stafylas P, Vitsou E, Giannakoulas G, Ntaios G, Milionis H, Hahalis G, Parthenakis F, Tsioufis K. Estimation of the economic burden of atrial fibrillation-related stroke in Greece. Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res 2021; 22:429-435. [PMID: 34569402 DOI: 10.1080/14737167.2021.1979961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Background: Stroke is aleading cause of death and disability, with atrial fibrillation (AF) being among key risk factors and AF-related stroke inflicting significant burden on healthcare systems and society. The present study was undertaken for estimating the total annual socioeconomic burden of AF-related stroke in Greece and identifying the key cost contributors.Research design and methods: A cost-of-illness model was developed for estimating the total annual economic burden of AF-related stroke in Greece, from asocietal perspective (year 2018). Atargeted literature review and an advisory board consisting of key experts in the management of AF and AF-related stroke were performed for collecting local resource use and epidemiological data.Results: The total annual socioeconomic burden of AF-related stroke was estimated at €175million, in 2018. Direct and indirect costs accounted for 59% and 41%, respectively. Main contributors were informal care (21.1%), patients' productivity losses (19.7%) and hospitalizations (15.0%), accounting for more than half of the total costs of AF-related stroke events.Conclusion: A F-related stroke imposes asignificant socioeconomic burden in Greece. Despite results relying on estimations, it seems that ensuring efficient reallocation of resources in appropriate prevention and early intervention strategies could decrease AF-related stroke's burden but also enhance healthcare systems' efficiency.Abbreviations: AF=atrial fibrillation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - George Giannakoulas
- First Department of Cardiology, Ahepa University Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - George Ntaios
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Haralampos Milionis
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - George Hahalis
- Department of Cardiology, University of Patras Medical School, Patras, Greece
| | | | - Konstantinos Tsioufis
- 1st Department of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece
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Strilciuc S, Grad DA, Radu C, Chira D, Stan A, Ungureanu M, Gheorghe A, Muresanu FD. The economic burden of stroke: a systematic review of cost of illness studies. J Med Life 2021; 14:606-619. [PMID: 35027963 PMCID: PMC8742896 DOI: 10.25122/jml-2021-0361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. As the number of stroke cases is rising from one year to another, policymakers require data on the amount spent on stroke to enforce better financing policies for prevention, hospital care, outpatient rehabilitation services and social services. We aimed to systematically assess the economic burden of stroke at global level. Cost of stroke studies were retrieved from five databases. We retrieved the average cost per patient, where specified, or estimated it using a top-down approach. Resulting costs were grouped in two main categories: per patient per year and per patient lifetime. We extracted information from forty-six cost of illness studies. Per patient per year costs are larger in high income countries and in studies conducted from the payer perspective. The highest average per patient per year cost by country was reported in the United States ($59,900), followed by Sweden ($52,725) and Spain ($41,950). The highest per patient lifetime costs were reported in Australia ($232,100) for all identified definitions of stroke. Existing literature regarding the economic burden of stroke is concentrated in high-income settings, with very few studies conducted in South America and Africa. Published manuscripts on this topic highlight substantial methodological heterogeneity, rendering comparisons difficult or impossible, even within the same country or among studies with similar costing perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Strilciuc
- Department of Neuroscience, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- RoNeuro Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Diana Alecsandra Grad
- RoNeuro Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Constantin Radu
- RoNeuro Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Diana Chira
- RoNeuro Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Adina Stan
- Department of Neuroscience, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- RoNeuro Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Marius Ungureanu
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Adrian Gheorghe
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Global Health and Development Group, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Fior-Dafin Muresanu
- Department of Neuroscience, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- RoNeuro Institute for Neurological Research and Diagnostic, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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