Cost of cardiac pacing

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Health Economics

Background:

• Permanent pacemaker implantation is a common procedure for managing bradyarrhythmias.
• Pacemaker dependency necessitates long-term patient management and associated healthcare utilization.
• The lifetime cost of cardiac pacing is a significant consideration for healthcare systems and patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the average lifetime medical expenses associated with permanent pacemaker use.
• To analyze the cost components of cardiac pacing, including hospitalizations and physician fees.
• To establish a baseline monthly cost per patient for pacemaker management.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective financial record review of 15 patients with permanent pacemakers.
• Analysis of medical expenses over an average pacing duration of 73 months.
• Inclusion of costs related to elective pacemaker replacements and hospital admissions.

Main Results:

• Total medical expenses for 15 patients amounted to $112,160 over 1,096 months of pacing.
• Hospital expenses constituted the majority of costs ($93,410), followed by physician fees ($18,750).
• Average monthly cost per patient was calculated at $102, with a range of $84 to $130.

Conclusions:

• Permanent pacemaker use is associated with significant and ongoing medical expenses.
• Healthcare resource utilization, particularly hospital admissions, drives the majority of pacing-related costs.
• Understanding these costs is crucial for long-term healthcare planning and patient financial counseling.