Cost-effectiveness analysis of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in aortic stenosis patients at low- and intermediate-surgical risk in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the cost-effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using the SAPIEN 3 (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) compared to surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) in low- and intermediate-risk patients from a Japanese public healthcare payer perspective. METHODS: A Markov model cost-effectiveness analysis was developed. Clinical and utility data were extracted from a systematic literature review. Cost inputs were obtained from analysis of the Medical Data Vision claims database and supplemented with a targeted literature search. The robustness of the results was assessed using sensitivity analyses. Scenario analyses were performed to determine the impact of lower mean age (77.5 years) and the effect of two different long-term mortality hazard ratios (TAVI versus SAVR: 0.9-1.09) on both risk-level populations. This analysis was conducted according to the guidelines for cost-effectiveness evaluation in Japan from Core 2 Health. RESULTS: In intermediate-risk patients, TAVI was a dominant procedure (TAVI had lower cost and higher effectiveness). In low-risk patients, the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) for TAVI was ¥750,417/quality-adjusted-life-years (QALY), which was below the cost-effectiveness threshold of ¥5 million/QALY. The ICER for TAVI was robust to all tested sensitivity and scenario analyses. CONCLUSIONS: TAVI was dominant and cost-effective compared to SAVR in intermediate- and low-risk patients, respectively. These results suggest that TAVI can provide meaningful value to Japanese patients relative to SAVR, at a reasonable incremental cost for patients at low surgical risk and potentially resulting in cost-savings in patients at intermediate surgical risk.

Aortic Stenosis (AS) is the most common valvular heart disease in Japan, and, if left untreated, severe symptomatic AS (sSAS) is associated with a dramatic increase in mortality and morbidity. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is a minimally invasive treatment option for replacing the aortic valve in patients with sSAS and has been associated with similar or better outcomes compared to Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR), which involves open-heart surgical replacement of the aortic valve. The objective of this study was to compare the costs and health outcomes associated with TAVI compared to SAVR in Japanese patients deemed low- or intermediate-risk for surgery. Despite the expanding use of TAVI in Japan, a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) does not exist that evaluates the economics of TAVI with the current generation SAPIEN 3 implant in patients with low- and intermediate-risk from a public perspective. Our study suggests that TAVI represents strong value for money among low- and intermediate-risk patients in Japan: compared to SAVR, TAVI is associated with better clinical outcomes and quality of life for patients, at a reasonable additional cost for low-risk patients and at a lower cost for intermediate-risk patients.

Limited Access to Aortic Valve Procedures in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Areas.

BACKGROUND: To explore how differences in local socioeconomic deprivation impact access to aortic valve procedures and the treatment of aortic valve disease, in comparison to other open and minimally invasive surgical procedures. METHODS AND RESULTS: Procedure volume data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project from 18 states from 2016 to 2019 and merged with area deprivation index data, an index of zip code-level socioeconomic distress. We estimate the relationship between local deprivation ranking and differences in volumes of aortic valve replacement, which include transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), versus coronary artery bypass graft surgery and laparoscopic colectomy (LC). All regressions control for state and year fixed effects and an array of zip code-level characteristics. TAVR procedures have increased over time across all zip codes. The rate of increase is negatively correlated with deprivation ranking, regardless of the higher share of hospitalizations per population in high deprivation areas. Distributional analysis further supports these findings, showing that lower area deprivation index areas account for a disproportionately large share of SAVR, TAVR, and LC procedures in our sample relative to their share of all hospitalizations in our sample. By comparison, the cumulative distribution of coronary artery bypass graft procedures was nearly identical to that of total hospitalizations, suggesting that this procedure is equitably distributed. Regressions show high area deprivation index areas have lower prevalence of SAVR (ß=-15.1%, [95% CI, -26.8 to -3.5]), TAVR (ß=-9.1%, [95% CI, -18.0 to -0.2]), and LC (ß=-19.9%, [95% CI, -35.4 to -4.4]), with no statistical difference in the prevalence of coronary artery bypass graft (ß=-2.5%, [95% CI, -12.7 to 7.6]), a widespread and commonly performed procedure. In the population aged ≥80 years, results show high area deprivation index areas have a lower prevalence of TAVR (ß=-11.9%, [95% CI, -18.7 to -5.2]) but not SAVR (ß=-0.8%, [95% CI, 8.1 to 6.3]), LC (ß=-3.5%, [95% CI, -13.4 to -6.4]), or coronary artery bypass graft (ß=5.2%, [95% CI, -1.1 to 1.1]). CONCLUSIONS: People living in high deprivation areas have less access to life-saving technologies, such as SAVR, and even moreso to device-intensive minimally invasive procedures such as TAVR and LC.

Long-term risk of reintervention after transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has surpassed surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) as the predominant mode of valve replacement for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, the long-term need for valvular reintervention after TAVR remains unknown. METHODS: Using data from the Medicare Fee for Service 100% dataset, all patients receiving TAVR between July 2011 and December 2020 were identified. Patients were categorized as receiving a valve reintervention (either surgical or transcatheter) or not using the appropriate International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS). A competing risk regression model was used to estimate the cumulative probability of valve reintervention. RESULTS: Of 230,644 TAVR patients were identified, of whom 1,880 received a reintervention. Patients receiving a reintervention were younger and more likely to be male. At 10 years, the crude rate of reintervention was 0.59% within a surviving cohort of 341 patients. After adjusting for the competing risk of death and other covariates, the adjusted cumulative incidence of reintervention at 10 years after TAVR was 1.63%. When the rate of reinterventions was compared between early (2011-2016) and later (2017-2020) time periods, the risk-adjusted rate of reintervention at 4 years had decreased over time (0.85% vs 0.51%). CONCLUSION: The 10-year risk of valve reintervention after TAVR is low and appears to be decreasing over time. Further research is necessary to determine the driving factors contributing to valve reintervention in the current era.

Cost-utility and cost-benefit analysis of TAVR availability in the US severe symptomatic aortic stenosis patient population.

AIMS: We evaluated the availability of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to determine its value across all severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (SSAS) patients, especially those untreated because of concerns regarding invasive surgical AVR (SAVR) and its impact on active aging. METHODS: We performed payer perspective cost-utility analysis (CUA) and societal perspective cost-benefit analysis (CBA). The CBA's benefit measure is active time: salaried labor, unpaid work, and active leisure. The study population is a cohort of US elderly SSAS patients. We compared a "TAVR available" scenario in which SSAS patients distribute themselves across TAVR, SAVR, and medical management (MM); and a "TAVR not available" scenario with only SAVR and MM. We structured each scenario with a decision-tree model of SSAS patient treatment allocation. We measured the association between health and active time in the US Health and Retirement Study and used this association to impute active time to SSAS patients given their health. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) and rate of return (RoR) of TAVR availability were $8,533 and 395%, respectively. CUA net monetary benefits (NMB) were $212,199 per patient and $43.4 billion population-wide. CBA NMB were $50,530 per patient and $10.3 billion population-wide. LIMITATIONS: Among study limitations were scarcity of evidence regarding key parameters and the lack of long-term survival, health utility, and treatment cost data. Our analysis did not account for TAVR durability, retreatments, and valve-in-valve treatments. CONCLUSION: Across risk-, age-, and treatment-eligibility groups, TAVR is the economically optimal treatment choice. It represents strong value-for-money per patient and population-wide. The vast majority of TAVR value involves raising treatment uptake among the untreated.

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common and lethal heart disease. Surgical treatment has long been available, but its invasiveness limits uptake. More recently, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has emerged as a treatment alternative. Its minimal invasiveness has significantly increased treatment rates, but economic evaluations omit this benefit, risking undervaluation. We evaluated TAVR in elderly US severe symptomatic AS patients, using payer perspective cost-utility analysis (CUA) and societal perspective cost-benefit analysis (CBA). Both CUA and CBA incorporated TAVR's impact on treatment rates. Given patient preferences for treatment options promoting active aging, our CBA used the value of active time as a benefit measure. We found that CUA/CBA net monetary benefits are $212,199/$50,530 per patient. Across risk-, age-, and treatment-eligibility groups, TAVR is the economically optimal treatment choice over surgery and medical management. It represents strong value-for-money per patient and population-wide. Increased treatment uptake accounts for the vast share of TAVR's value.

Anxiety and Depression Following Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background The aim of this study was to identify patients vulnerable for anxiety and/or depression following aortic valve replacement (AVR) and to evaluate factors that may mitigate this risk. Methods and Results This is a retrospective cohort study conducted using a claims database; 18 990 patients (1/2013-12/2018) ≥55 years of age with 6 months of pre-AVR data were identified. Anxiety and/or depression risk was compared at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year following transcatheter aortic valve replacement or surgical AVR (SAVR) after risk adjustment using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models. Separate models were estimated for patients with and without surgical complications and discharge location. Patients with SAVR experienced a higher relative risk of anxiety and/or depression at 3 months (12.4% versus 8.8%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.39 [95% CI, 1.19-1.63]) and 6 months (15.6% versus 13.0%; adjusted HR, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.08-1.42]), with this difference narrowing by 12 months (20.1% versus 19.3%; adjusted HR, 1.14 [95% CI, 1.01-1.29]) after AVR. This association was most pronounced among patients discharged to home, with patients with SAVR having a higher relative risk of anxiety and/or depression. In patients who experienced operative complications, there was no difference between SAVR and transcatheter aortic valve replacement. However, among patients without operative complications, patients with SAVR had an increased risk of postoperative anxiety and/or depression at 3 months (adjusted HR, 1.47 [95% CI, 1.23-1.75]) and 6 months (adjusted HR 1.26 [95% CI, 1.08-1.46]), but not at 12 months. Conclusions There is an associated reduction in the risk of new-onset anxiety and/or depression among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (versus SAVR), particularly in the first 3 and 6 months following treatment.

Economic value of transcatheter valve replacement for inoperable aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: To project the social value of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for inoperable patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (SSAS). STUDY DESIGN: This study used an economic model with parameters obtained from the literature and from US Census Bureau population projections. METHODS: Our model estimated the economic value that will accrue to inoperable patients with SSAS and to device manufacturers as a result of TAVR utilization. We estimated individual patient value as the monetized gain in quality-adjusted life-years as estimated in the cost-effectiveness literature, net of device costs and cost offsets. We estimated manufacturer value by applying an assumed profit margin to revenue from device sales. We created population-level estimates by combining these individual-level estimates with age-stratified Census Bureau population projections and estimates of the incidence of AS. We assessed model uncertainty through the use of probabilistic sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: Between 2018 and 2028, approximately 465,000 inoperable Americans with SSAS will be treated with TAVR. These procedures will yield a cumulative social benefit of up to $48 billion, with roughly 80% of that benefit accruing to patients and 20% accruing to device manufacturers. CONCLUSIONS: Policy makers and payers should take this social value into account when considering decisions related to the care of inoperable patients with SSAS.

Cost of operating room time for endovascular transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Background: Procedural efficiencies can contribute to cost reductions in transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures (TAVR). The objective of this study is to determine operating room (OR) variable cost per minute in endovascular TAVR procedures, in a real-world hospital setting. Methods: Using Premier data from January 2015-June 2016 for patients undergoing a primary endovascular TAVR (primary ICD-9 code of 35.05, ICD-10 code of 02RF37Z, 02RF38Z, 02RF3JZ, or 02RF3KZ) procedure, the OR cost per minute was calculated for each patient by dividing the total hospital OR variable cost by the OR time (minutes). Results: Of the 4,573 patients in the cohort, the average age was 80 years, 77% were admitted electively, and the vast majority were discharged home with (30%) or without (45%) home care. Median OR time for endovascular TAVR procedures was 180 min. The trimmed mean OR cost per minute was $43.59 (SD = $28.68). When stratified by Elixhauser Risk score and Charlson comorbidity index, OR cost per minute increased with higher risk and comorbidity (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.041, respectively). Conclusions: This contemporary estimate of the real-world variable OR cost per minute provides researchers with a critical parameter to refine economic models of TAVR and aid clinical program directors in resource planning according to a priori risk and comorbidity.

Incremental cost and length of stay associated with postprocedure delirium in transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement patients in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the impact of post-procedure delirium on resource utilization following transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement (TAVR and SAVR, respectively). BACKGROUND: Postprocedure delirium is associated with worse long-term survival after TAVR and SAVR. However, its effect on resource utilization has been understudied. METHODS: Using the 2015 Medicare Provider Analysis and Review File (MedPAR), we retrospectively analyzed elderly (≥80 years) Medicare beneficiaries receiving either SAVR or endovascular TAVR in the United States. Multivariate regression models estimating hospitalization cost and length of stay (LoS) were adjusted for patient demographics, comorbidities, and nondelirium complications. RESULTS: A total of 21,088 discharges were available for analysis (12,114 TAVR and 8,974 SAVR). TAVR patients were older (87 ± 3.8 vs. 84 ± 2.7 years; P < 0.001) with a higher comorbidity burden (Charlson index 3.0 ± 1.8 vs. 2.1 ± 1.7; P < 0.0001). Despite this, fewer TAVR patients (1.6%) experienced postoperative delirium during the index hospitalization compared to surgical patients (3.6%; P < 0.0001). Delirium was associated with a 4.16 [3.51-4.81] day longer hospital LoS and $15,592 ($12,849-$18,334) higher incremental hospitalization cost. When stratified by treatment approach, the adjusted incremental cost of delirium was +$13,862 ($9,431-$18,292) with TAVR and +$16,656 ($13,177-$20,136) with SAVR with an additional hospital LoS of +3.39 (2.34-4.43) days and +4.63 (3.81-5.45) days for TAVR and SAVR, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Postprocedure delirium is associated with significantly increased hospitalization costs and LoS following AVR. TAVR was associated with a lower postoperative delirium rate compared to SAVR. Post-TAVR delirium may be associated with less resource consumption than post-SAVR delirium.

Estimating the association between metabolic risk factors and marijuana use in U.S. adults using data from the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

PURPOSE: More research is needed on the health effects of marijuana use. Results of previous studies indicate that marijuana could alleviate certain factors of metabolic syndrome, such as obesity. METHODS: Data on 6281 persons from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2005 to 2012 were used to estimate the effect of marijuana use on cardiometabolic risk factors. The reliability of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression models was tested by replacing marijuana use as the risk factor of interest with alcohol and carbohydrate consumption. Instrumental variable methods were used to account for the potential endogeneity of marijuana use. RESULTS: OLS models show lower fasting insulin, insulin resistance, body mass index, and waist circumference in users compared with nonusers. However, when alcohol and carbohydrate intake substitute for marijuana use in OLS models, similar metabolic benefits are estimated. The Durbin-Wu-Hausman tests provide evidence of endogeneity of marijuana use in OLS models, but instrumental variables models do not yield significant estimates for marijuana use. CONCLUSION: These findings challenge the robustness of OLS estimates of a positive relationship between marijuana use and fasting insulin, insulin resistance, body mass index, and waist circumference.

Use of Insurance Against a Small Loss as an Incentive Strategy.

The success of extended warranties and buyer protection plans suggests that insurance against a small loss has high decision utility. We explore whether the behavioral insight that people are highly averse to small chances of loss can be used to create a powerful incentive that has very low expected value. We compare decisions of individuals offered fixed payments for healthy choices to those offered insurance in exchange for healthy choices. We test the prediction that aversion to small losses will result in very high rates of health behavior uptake in exchange for insurance. Three hundred participants endowed with a $2 bonus randomly received one of two incentives for completing a scheduled health risk assessment: (1) an insurance guarantee against the 1% risk of losing the $2 bonus or (2) a fixed payment at the expected value of the insurance. Relative to the fixed payment condition, participants in the insurance intervention were 70% more likely to meet their health risk assessment appointment (p < 0.01). Fixed payments of $2.59 were needed for every $1 spent on insurance to achieve the same behavioral effect. Loss aversion, probability weighting, and the certainty effect may account for this result. Incentive design may benefit from utilizing an insurance paradigm.