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Updated: Sep 9, 2025

A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program
04:24

A Novel Digital Platform for a Monitored Home-based Cardiac Rehabilitation Program

Published on: April 19, 2019

11.7K

Cost-effectiveness of a digitally enabled cardiac rehabilitation programme for patients with coronary heart disease

Justin Braver1,2,3, Thomas H Marwick1,3, Melinda J Carrington1,3

  • 1Baker Department of Cardiometabolic Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology
|August 28, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Digitally enabled cardiac rehabilitation (DeCR) is a cost-effective strategy for coronary heart disease patients, improving health outcomes. This digital approach offers better quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) at an acceptable cost compared to usual care.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Health Economics
  • Digital Health

Background:

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD) necessitates effective and accessible rehabilitation programs.
  • Traditional cardiac rehabilitation may have limitations in reach and adherence.
  • Digitally enabled cardiac rehabilitation (DeCR) offers a potential solution for widespread patient access.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of a nationally implemented DeCR program for CHD patients.
  • To compare the health outcomes and costs of DeCR versus usual care.

Main Methods:

  • A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using a Markov model.
  • Data on hospitalization costs and intervention delivery were collected.
  • Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were derived from EQ-5D-5L scores and literature estimates.
  • A 5-year time horizon with 3% annual discounting was applied.
  • Sensitivity analyses were conducted with a willingness-to-pay threshold of AUD$50,000 per QALY.

Main Results:

  • DeCR yielded 4.677 QALYs at AUD$121,235, versus 3.244 QALYs at AUD$100,733 for usual care.
  • The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was AUD$14,302 per QALY gained, below the WTP threshold.
  • DeCR was found to be cost-effective in 87% of simulations.

Conclusions:

  • Digitally enabled cardiac rehabilitation is a cost-effective alternative to usual care for CHD patients.
  • DeCR improves health outcomes, including QALYs, at an acceptable economic cost.
  • The findings support the broader implementation of DeCR programs.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cardiac rehabilitationCoronary heart diseaseCost-effectiveness analysisDigital healthHealth economicsTelerehabilitation

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