Cost-effectiveness of the National Pediatric Heart Transplantation Program in Australia

Cost data for pediatric heart transplantation are scarce. We examined hospital cost of the national pediatric heart transplantation program in Australia and assessed factors associated with increased costs.

The hospital cost of all children who underwent heart transplantation at a national referral center between January 2003 and June 2015 and were followed more than 1 year was retrospectively analyzed. Lifetime follow-up costs were adjusted for quality of life and projected to life expectancy. All costs were reported in 2016 US dollars.

Of 70 children who underwent heart transplantation in the study period, 61 were followed more than 1 year after transplantation (mean, 4.3 ± 2.5 years). Mean cost of primary heart transplantation was $278,480 (95% confidence interval, 219,282-337,679) and did not change over time. Pretransplant mechanical circulatory support was required in 36% (22/61) of children. On multivariable analysis, greater admission costs were associated with ventricular assist device and pretransplant length of stay. Mean annual follow-up cost after discharge was $55,823 (95% confidence interval, 47,631-64,015) in the first year and $12,119 (95% confidence interval, 8578-15,661) thereafter. Increased first-year follow-up costs were associated with endomyocardial biopsies and length of readmissions. Cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained varied from $29,161 to $44,481 on sensitivity analysis. Freedom from treated rejections was 65.5% at 1 year, 63.2% at 3 years, and 59.5% at 5 years. Endomyocardial biopsies contributed to 52% of first-year follow-up costs.

Primary pediatric heart transplantation in Australia is cost-effective for long-term survivors, even for those supported by ventricular assist device. Surveillance endomyocardial biopsy was a major contributor to post-transplantation costs. Selective targeting of surveillance biopsies may be cost-saving.