Efficacy and cost analysis of ibutilide

To determine the efficacy and safety of ibutilide in atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFl) in a clinical setting and to compare the cost of first-line ibutilide with that of projected first-line electrical cardioversion (EC) from a hospital and third-party payer perspective.

Medical records of all patients (n = 60) who received ibutilide from August 1996 to March 1998 were reviewed. Efficacy was defined as successful conversion to sinus rhythm within 60 minutes of the end of the infusion, and the maintenance of sinus rhythm until hospital discharge. Safety was evaluated by determining the incidence of torsade de pointes. Charges for EC and drug administration were obtained from the hospital database and converted to costs using cost/charge ratios. Hospital costs included drug, drug administration, cardiac intensive care laboratory fee, and the cost of managing torsade de pointes. The third-party payer calculation included all of the above plus the cardiologist and anesthesiologist fees.

Fifty percent of patients with AF or AFl were successfully converted with ibutilide; 67% of these remained in sinus rhythm at hospital discharge. Three patients experienced nonsustained torsade de pointes; all resolved with pharmacologic management. From a hospital perspective, the cost of first-line ibutilide was greater than the cost of first-line EC ($280 vs. $138 per patient). However, from a third-party payer perspective, the use of ibutilide saved approximately $324 per patient ($718 vs. $1042).

The efficacy and safety of ibutilide in the clinical setting are consistent with data reported in clinical trials. In contrast to a previous decision analysis, ibutilide was not associated with cost savings from a hospital perspective, but was from a payer perspective.