Search is Powered by Google
Cardiovascular / Cardiology News

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

email icon email to a friend   printer icon printer friendly   write icon view / write opinions   rate icon rate article


Current Article Ratings:

Patient / Public:3 stars

3 (4 votes)

Health Professional:not yet rated

Article Opinions: 0 posts

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
ABSTRACT

http://www.ispor.org




Personalized Homepage Weekly Newsletters Daily News Alerts
Opioid Induced Constipation ADHD Anxiety Asthma Autism Cancer Diabetes Lung Cancer Lupus Medicare / Medicaid Obesity and BMI Pancreatic Cancer Stem Cells All 'What Is...' Articles All 'How To...' Articles

Ophthalmology Urology
About Us News Licensing Free Website Feeds Free Tools & Content Tell a Friend Accessibility Help / FAQ Article Submission Links Contact Us

add medical news today to your facebook
medical news gadget

Swine Flu Image

Swine Flu Updates

- Latest Swine Flu News
- What is Swine Flu?
- Map Of H1N1 Outbreaks
- Swine Flu - Top 20 FAQ
- Daily Email News Alerts
Stick with Medical News Today for the latest news updates on swine flu.


These are the most read articles from this news category for the last 6 months:
Top Article Star
Stress Can Be The Cause Of Unexplained Chest Pain
10 Feb 2009
Each year, many people seek emergency treatment for unexplained chest pains. A thesis from the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, indicates several common factors among those affected, including stress at...


Talking with Your Doctor image Talking with Your Doctor

Talking with your doctor can sometimes be difficult. Good health care, however, depends on an open dialogue between patients and doctors...

Keeping a Personal Medical Record image Keeping a Personal Medical Record

Medical information is usually scattered in many different places. To receive the best possible health care, people are encouraged to gather information in one place and create a personal medical record...

View more videos...