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[Costs and benefits of heart failure treatment]

J M Gaspoz1

  • 1Département de médecine interne, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève. Gaspoz-Jean-Michel@diogenes.hcuge.ch

Schweizerische Medizinische Wochenschrift
|March 24, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a major public health issue. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) and vasodilators offer cost-effective treatments, saving years of life at a low cost.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Health Economics

Background:

  • Congestive heart failure (CHF) presents a significant public health challenge due to high prevalence, mortality, morbidity, and healthcare resource utilization.
  • CHF is the leading cause of hospitalization for individuals aged 65 and over, consuming approximately 2% of healthcare budgets in industrialized nations.
  • Projected population aging suggests a potential 70% increase in CHF prevalence in Europe by 2010, exacerbating economic consequences.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the economic impact of treatments for congestive heart failure.
  • To identify therapeutic strategies that not only prolong life but also slow disease progression and reduce healthcare resource utilization, particularly hospital admissions.
  • To assess the cost-effectiveness of specific pharmacological interventions for CHF management.

Main Methods:

  • Economic analyses of treatment strategies for congestive heart failure.
  • Review of studies comparing the cost-effectiveness of vasodilators, including the hydralazine-isosorbide dinitrate combination and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE).
  • Calculation of costs per year of life saved for various medical interventions.

Main Results:

  • Economic analyses indicate that vasodilators, particularly ACE inhibitors, demonstrate favorable cost-effectiveness for managing congestive heart failure.
  • The cost per year of life saved by ACE inhibitors is notably low, estimated at less than $10,000.
  • These costs are significantly lower compared to many other established medical strategies for CHF.

Conclusions:

  • Vasodilators, especially ACE inhibitors, represent a highly cost-effective medical strategy for treating congestive heart failure.
  • Implementing cost-effective treatments like ACE inhibitors can help mitigate the growing economic burden of CHF.
  • Further economic evaluations support the use of ACE inhibitors to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare expenditure in CHF management.

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