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Updated: Aug 8, 2025
A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
Published on: April 19, 2019
Cost-Effectiveness of a Cardiac Rehabilitation Program Specifically Designed for Patients With Obesity Within the
L A Visser1, I den Uijl2, W K Redekop1
1Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Objective:
To assess the cost-effectiveness of a cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program specifically designed for cardiac patients with obesity vs standard CR.
Design:
Cost-effectiveness analysis based on observations in a randomized controlled trial.
Setting:
Three regional CR centers in the Netherlands.
Participants:
Cardiac patients (N=201) with obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2) referred to CR.
Interventions:
Participants were randomized to a CR program specifically designed for patients with obesity (OPTICARE XL; N=102) or standard CR. OPTICARE XL included aerobic and strength exercise and behavioral coaching on diet and physical activity during 12 weeks, followed by a 9-month after-care program with "booster" educational sessions. Standard CR consisted of a 6- to 12-week aerobic exercise program, supplemented with cardiovascular lifestyle education.
Main Outcome Measures:
An economic evaluation, with an 18-month time horizon, in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs from the societal perspective was performed. Costs were reported in 2020 Euros, discounted at a 4% annual rate, and health effects were discounted at a 1.5% annual rate.
Results:
OPTICARE XL CR and standard CR resulted in comparable health gain per patient (0.958 vs 0.965 QALYs, respectively; P=.96). Overall, OPTICARE XL CR saved costs (-€4542) compared with the standard CR group. The direct costs for OPTICARE XL CR were higher than for standard CR (€10,712 vs €9951), whereas indirect costs were lower (€51,789 vs €57,092), but these differences were not significant.
Conclusions:
This economic evaluation showed no differences between OPTICARE XL CR and standard CR in health effects and costs in cardiac patients with obesity.
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