ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Comparative costing studies using real-world data stratified by patient case-mix, are valuable to decision makers for making reimbursement decisions of new interventions. This study evaluated real-world hospital admissions and short-term costs of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and isolated surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) for patients with aortic stenosis, stratified by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk scores. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with a principal diagnosis of aortic stenosis who underwent isolated valve replacement at a single tertiary hospital, January 2012-December 2017. Patients were followed-up for 30 days post-procedure or until hospital discharge if index hospitalisation was greater than 30 days. Intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (days), and costs in 2018 Australian dollars for the index procedure and 30-day follow-up were assessed. Multivariable generalised linear and two-part models with gamma distribution and log link function adjusting for Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) risk group and key sociodemographic characteristics were used. RESULTS: Of 488 patients, 61% males, median age 78 years (IQR 14 years), 221 (45%) received transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVI) and 267 (55%) received surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR). STS risk scores were low (28%), intermediate (46%) and high (26%) for TAVI patients, and low (85%), intermediate (12%) and high (3%) for SAVR patients. When adjusted, TAVI length of stay was 57% shorter than SAVR (95% CI 31-83%, p<0.001) for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and 64% shorter (95% CI 47-81%, p<0.001) for hospital admissions. TAVI costs were 13% lower than SAVR (95% CI 4-22%, p=0.005). CONCLUSION: This data suggests short-term health care costs are lower for patients with aortic stenosis undergoing TAVI than SAVR. A further roll-out of the TAVI program in hospitals across Australia may result in savings to the health system.
Subject(s)
Aortic Valve Stenosis , Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation , Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement , Aged , Aortic Valve/surgery , Aortic Valve Stenosis/diagnosis , Aortic Valve Stenosis/surgery , Australia/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
This study compared an activation intervention to passive education in a randomized attention-control trial of 232 patients with type 2 diabetes. The activation intervention was based on Expanding Patient Involvement in Care (EPIC) trials, and was compared to time-matched passive education viewing of ADA video-tapes. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics of their diabetes were assessed with questionnaires, active involvement was assessed via ratings of taped interactions between patients and providers, and serum samples were analyzed for HbA1c. Patients in the activation condition were rated as more actively involved in discussions of diabetes self-management, and rated active involvement was predictive of improvement in glycemic control. No effect of the activation intervention was found on HbA1c. Thus, the activation intervention increased the active involvement of patients with type 2 diabetes in visits with practitioners, and active involvement led to improved glycemic control. However, the activation intervention did not improve glycemic control directly.
