An economic evaluation of first-line cryoballoon ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from a German healthcare payer perspective

Abstract Background Three recent randomized controlled trials demonstrated that, in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), first-line pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon catheter ablation reduces atrial arrhythmia recurrence compared to initial antiarrhythmic drug (AAD...

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Main Authors: Malte Kuniss, Lucy Hillcoat, Joe Moss, Florian Straube, Jason Andrade, Oussama Wazni, Gian Battista Chierchia, Lukas Schwegmann, Eleni Ismyrloglou, Alicia Sale, Stuart Mealing, Tom Bromilow, Emily Lane, Damian Lewis, Andreas Goette
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11967-0
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author Malte Kuniss
Lucy Hillcoat
Joe Moss
Florian Straube
Jason Andrade
Oussama Wazni
Gian Battista Chierchia
Lukas Schwegmann
Eleni Ismyrloglou
Alicia Sale
Stuart Mealing
Tom Bromilow
Emily Lane
Damian Lewis
Andreas Goette
author_facet Malte Kuniss
Lucy Hillcoat
Joe Moss
Florian Straube
Jason Andrade
Oussama Wazni
Gian Battista Chierchia
Lukas Schwegmann
Eleni Ismyrloglou
Alicia Sale
Stuart Mealing
Tom Bromilow
Emily Lane
Damian Lewis
Andreas Goette
author_sort Malte Kuniss
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Three recent randomized controlled trials demonstrated that, in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), first-line pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon catheter ablation reduces atrial arrhythmia recurrence compared to initial antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of first-line cryoablation compared to first-line AADs from a German healthcare payer perspective. Methods Individual patient-level data from 703 participants with untreated PAF enrolled into three randomized clinical trials (Cryo-FIRST, STOP AF First and EARLY-AF) were used to derive parameters for the cost-effectiveness model (CEM). The CEM structure consisted of a hybrid decision tree and Markov model. The decision tree (one-year time horizon) informed initial health state allocation in the first cycle of the Markov model (40-year time horizon; three-month cycle length). Health benefits were expressed in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Cost inputs were sourced from German diagnosis-related groups and the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK). Costs and benefits were discounted at 3% per annum. Results Cryoablation was cost-effective, incurring ~ €200 per patient while offering an increase in QALYs (~ 0.18) over a lifetime. This produced an average incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of ~ €1,000 per QALY gained. Individuals were expected to receive ~ 1.2 ablations over a lifetime, regardless of initial treatment. However, those initially treated with cryoablation as opposed to AADs experience 0.9 fewer re-ablations and a 45% reduction in time spent in AF health states. Conclusion Initial rhythm control with cryoballoon ablation in symptomatic PAF is a cost-effective treatment option in a German healthcare setting.
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spelling doaj-art-4766e7497ae84ae7b3a3a48fa0750b7f2025-08-20T02:08:20ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-11-0124111310.1186/s12913-024-11967-0An economic evaluation of first-line cryoballoon ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from a German healthcare payer perspectiveMalte Kuniss0Lucy Hillcoat1Joe Moss2Florian Straube3Jason Andrade4Oussama Wazni5Gian Battista Chierchia6Lukas SchwegmannEleni Ismyrloglou7Alicia Sale8Stuart Mealing9Tom Bromilow10Emily Lane11Damian Lewis12Andreas Goette13Kerckhoff Heart CenterYork Health Economics ConsortiumYork Health Economics ConsortiumHeart Center Munich-BogenhausenUniversity of British ColumbiaCleveland ClinicUniversitair Ziekenhuis Brussel and Vrije Universiteit BrusselBakken Research Center B.VMedtronicYork Health Economics ConsortiumYork Health Economics ConsortiumYork Health Economics ConsortiumYork Health Economics Consortium Vincenz HospitalAbstract Background Three recent randomized controlled trials demonstrated that, in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), first-line pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon catheter ablation reduces atrial arrhythmia recurrence compared to initial antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of first-line cryoablation compared to first-line AADs from a German healthcare payer perspective. Methods Individual patient-level data from 703 participants with untreated PAF enrolled into three randomized clinical trials (Cryo-FIRST, STOP AF First and EARLY-AF) were used to derive parameters for the cost-effectiveness model (CEM). The CEM structure consisted of a hybrid decision tree and Markov model. The decision tree (one-year time horizon) informed initial health state allocation in the first cycle of the Markov model (40-year time horizon; three-month cycle length). Health benefits were expressed in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Cost inputs were sourced from German diagnosis-related groups and the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK). Costs and benefits were discounted at 3% per annum. Results Cryoablation was cost-effective, incurring ~ €200 per patient while offering an increase in QALYs (~ 0.18) over a lifetime. This produced an average incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of ~ €1,000 per QALY gained. Individuals were expected to receive ~ 1.2 ablations over a lifetime, regardless of initial treatment. However, those initially treated with cryoablation as opposed to AADs experience 0.9 fewer re-ablations and a 45% reduction in time spent in AF health states. Conclusion Initial rhythm control with cryoballoon ablation in symptomatic PAF is a cost-effective treatment option in a German healthcare setting.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11967-0AblationCryoablationCost-effectivenessParoxysmal atrial fibrillationAntiarrhythmic drug
spellingShingle Malte Kuniss
Lucy Hillcoat
Joe Moss
Florian Straube
Jason Andrade
Oussama Wazni
Gian Battista Chierchia
Lukas Schwegmann
Eleni Ismyrloglou
Alicia Sale
Stuart Mealing
Tom Bromilow
Emily Lane
Damian Lewis
Andreas Goette
An economic evaluation of first-line cryoballoon ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from a German healthcare payer perspective
BMC Health Services Research
Ablation
Cryoablation
Cost-effectiveness
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Antiarrhythmic drug
title An economic evaluation of first-line cryoballoon ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from a German healthcare payer perspective
title_full An economic evaluation of first-line cryoballoon ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from a German healthcare payer perspective
title_fullStr An economic evaluation of first-line cryoballoon ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from a German healthcare payer perspective
title_full_unstemmed An economic evaluation of first-line cryoballoon ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from a German healthcare payer perspective
title_short An economic evaluation of first-line cryoballoon ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from a German healthcare payer perspective
title_sort economic evaluation of first line cryoballoon ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from a german healthcare payer perspective
topic Ablation
Cryoablation
Cost-effectiveness
Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
Antiarrhythmic drug
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-11967-0
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