How Much Does Atrial Fibrillation Cost The German Health Care System?

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Medical Devices / Diagnostics
Article Date: 31 Jul 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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In light of the aging population, the escalating cost impact of diseases common in the elderly on a country's health care budget is of increasing importance.

A country-specific evaluation of the costs associated with this condition is important for both clinicians and health care planners.

A recent study, "The costs of care in atrial fibrillation and the effect of treatment modalities in Germany," published in Value in Health, estimated a disease-related cost of over €660 million to the German healthcare system, with 44% of the costs attributed to hospital in-patient care and 56% for outpatient care. Substantially higher costs were incurred by patients requiring treatment to regulate their heart rhythm in comparison to those who required treatment to decrease their heart rate or other therapies. The study was co-authored by Doreen McBride, Anna Mattenklotz, Stefan Willich and Bernd Brüggenjürgen of the Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economics at the Charité University Medical Center.

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common heart arrhythmias, affecting 6% of people over 65 years of age. Because of the associated increased risk of stroke, the treatment of atrial fibrillation includes controlling the increased heart rate and irregular rhythm, as well as preventing stroke through the use of blood thinners.

Says Dr. McBride, "The real-life cost evaluation of this study demonstrates marked economic burden due to atrial fibrillation. Efforts to reduce the high cost of atrial fibrillation should focus on optimization of current treatment modalities in stroke prevention and heart rhythm control, thereby reducing the need for hospital admissions."

Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research and help health care leaders to make decisions that are solidly evidence-based. The journal is published bi-monthly and has a regular readership of over 3,000 clinicians, decision-makers, and researchers worldwide.

ISPOR is a nonprofit, international organization that strives to translate pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research into practice to ensure that society allocates scarce health care resources wisely, fairly, and efficiently.

Value in Health Volume 12 Issue 2 -March/April 2009
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http://www.ispor.org