Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) compared with anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) from the perspective of the UK NHS.
DESIGN: Bayesian evidence synthesis and decision analytical model.
METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted and Bayesian statistical methods used to synthesise the effectiveness evidence from randomised control trials. A decision analytical model was developed to assess the costs and consequences associated with the primary outcome of the trials over a lifetime time horizon.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Costs from a health service perspective and outcomes measured as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).
RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of RFCA varied between pound7763 and pound7910 for each additional QALY according to baseline risk of stroke, with a probability of being cost-effective from 0.98 to 0.99 for a cost-effectiveness threshold of pound20 000. Results were sensitive to the duration of quality of life benefits from treatment.
CONCLUSIONS: RFCA is potentially cost-effective for the treatment of paroxysmal AF in patients' predominantly refractory to AAD therapy provided the quality-of-life benefits from treatment are maintained for more than 5 years. These findings remain subject to limitations in the existing evidence regarding the nature of life benefits and the prognostic importance of restoring normal sinus rhythm conferred using RFCA.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 542-9 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Heart |
Volume | 95 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2009 |
Keywords
- Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Bayes Theorem
- Catheter Ablation
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Drug Costs
- Great Britain
- Humans
- Quality-Adjusted Life Years
- Stroke
- Treatment Outcome