An economic analysis was conducted using clinical outcomes in the MIRACL trial that evaluated high-dose atorvastatin versus placebo for 16 weeks after acute coronary syndrome. The direct cost of atorvastatin was largely offset by the associated decrease in cardiovascular events. The net incremental cost of atorvastatin treatment was 157 dollars/patient with a cost-effectiveness ratio of 4,086 d...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to assess cost-effectiveness and long-term clinical benefits of renal denervation in resistant hypertensive patients. BACKGROUND Resistant hypertension affects 12% of hypertensive persons. In the Symplicity HTN-2 randomized controlled trial, catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) lowered systolic blood pressure by 32 ± 23 mm Hg from 178 ± 18 mm Hg at b...

Incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) has risen rapidly over the past decades in Western countries. As a premalignant lesion, Barrett’s esophagus (BE) is an established risk factor of EAC. This study estimated the impact of surveillance endoscopy for BE on population’s survival upon EAC by a whole-population cost-effectiveness analysis among modeled Western population. Possibilities and ...

BACKGROUND Organized cervical screening has decreased the incidence of cervical cancer. However, screening strategies vary in different countries. OBJECTIVES We performed a systematic review to evaluate the economic aspects of different screening methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched databases and then data were abstracted from each study. We evaluated articles based on different types...

BACKGROUND Although widely applied, the cost-effectiveness of endovenous laser ablation (EVLT) for varicose veins has not been established. METHODS Cost-effectiveness analysis was performed on the evaluation of EVLT for the treatment of uncomplicated varicose veins by using published data from randomizd clinical trials regarding the costs and the quality of life. Incremental cost per quality-...

BACKGROUND Patients with severe aortic stenosis and coexisting non-cardiac conditions may be at high risk for surgical replacement of the aortic valve or even be no candidates for surgery. In these patients, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is suggested as an alternative. Results of the PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER Valve) trial comparing the clinical effectiveness of...

Estimation of the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) is difficult for several reasons: treatments that decrease both cost and effectiveness and treatments that increase both cost and effectiveness can yield identical values of the ICER; the ICER is a discontinuous function of the mean difference in effectiveness; and the standard estimate of the ICER is a ratio. To address these diffic...

OBJECTIVE Newer medications offer more options for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. However, they come at considerable costs. We undertook a health economic analysis to better understand the value of adding two newer medications (exenatide and sitagliptin) as second-line therapy to glycemic control strategies for patients with new-onset diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We performed a...

Background—The recently reported Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial (MADIT) showed improved survival in selected asymptomatic patients with coronary disease and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. The economic consequences of defibrillator management in this patient population are unknown. Methods and Results—Patients were followed up to quantify their use of healthcare se...