Budget impact analyses for treatment of heart failure. A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Health Economics
• Public Health

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) presents a growing global health challenge with substantial morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding the economic implications of HF treatments is crucial for healthcare resource allocation.
• This systematic review focuses on budget impact analyses of HF treatments worldwide.

Approach:

• A comprehensive search of scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar) was conducted for studies published between January 2001 and August 2023.
• Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria, with quality assessed using ISPOR practice guidelines.
• The review analyzed budget impact studies from various perspectives, primarily focusing on direct costs and utilizing data from clinical trials, literature, and registries.

Key Points:

• Most reviewed studies adopted a 1-year time horizon and a public health or health system perspective.
• Sensitivity analyses were common, though more detailed in high-income country studies.
• Direct costs were the primary focus, with limited reporting on indirect costs.

Conclusions:

• Implementing new HF treatments can decrease cardiovascular hospitalization and re-hospitalization rates.
• These new treatments may also reduce cardiac-associated mortality and improve heart failure class.
• Consequently, budget impact analyses suggest potential cost savings through reduced healthcare utilization and improved patient outcomes.