Implanting Mechanical Heart Valves In Young Patients Can Save $60k/patient

Main Category: Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Also Included In: Lymphology/Lymphedema
Article Date: 12 Mar 2013 - 1:00 PDT


A comparative long-term cost analysis between the On-X® Prosthetic Heart Valve and stented tissue valves shows a potential life-time savings of nearly $60,000 per patient and $1.2 billion for total U.S. Healthcare

On-X® Life Technologies, Inc. (On-X LTI) have announced that a cost analysis entitled, "Predicting Long-Term Costs of Heart Valve Replacement: A Comparative Analysis Between Prosthesis Types," will be presented in poster form at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) meeting in San Francisco on March 9-11, 2013. The cost analysis is the work of authors Steven D. Culler, Ph.D., of the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta and Sidney Levitsky, M.D., Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, and was sponsored by On-X LTI.

The key findings of the study indicate that for a typical 55-year-old heart valve disease patient with a 25-year life expectancy who requires a heart valve replacement, the cumulative healthcare cost savings of using the On-X mechanical valve instead of a stented tissue valve for the initial surgery is approximately $60,000. Extrapolating on that rate for the estimated 20,000 patients in this age group presently receiving stented tissue valves would provide a total U.S. healthcare cost savings of approximately $1.2 billion per year.

According to Dr. Culler, "This analysis has taken into consideration costs associated with and documented by peer-reviewed publications. These costs include the implantation and lifetime maintenance of the study heart valves, including the cost of treatment of complications for each prosthesis and reoperation over time for stented tissue valves. It is our hope that this analysis may help provide insight into future costs as one aspect of the prosthesis choice decision."

From a more clinical viewpoint, Dr. Levitsky commented, "Several recent studies suggest significant mortality benefits for patients receiving mechanical valves in comparisons of matched patient groups. This analytical construct demonstrates cost savings if a mechanical valve such as the On-X valve is used for the initial implantation."

"It was important for On-X LTI to support this cost analysis," said Clyde Baker, On-X LTI's president. "The future of healthcare will likely be one of purchasing value through comparative cost effectiveness. We believe the On-X valve with its documented lower complications and anticipated reduction in anticoagulation therapy requirements is the ideal valve for many younger patients."

On-X heart valves are made of pure On-X Carbon and have an advanced design that causes less blood cell damage than traditional mechanical valves. Long-term studies have documented fewer morbid events in recipients of On-X valves. Presently, the Prospective Randomized On-X Valve Reduced Anticoagulation Clinical Trial (PROACT) is examining if patients may require less anticoagulation.

The On-X valve is the result of a breakthrough in medical grade carbon technology On-X pure pyrolytic carbon. In addition to providing a more thromboresistant surface, the comparatively high strength of pure On-X Carbon® enabled On-X LTI to make significant valve design changes that resulted in a prosthesis that acts more like a natural valve in its treatment of blood. It is well documented that the On-X valve does not produce the turbulence and blood damage commonly produced by other mechanical heart valve prostheses and, therefore, significantly reduces the potential for life-threatening blood clots.

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