Cost-effectiveness of cardiac rehabilitation versus usual care in Chile

Article type
Authors
Seron P1, Gaete M1, Oliveros M1, Roman C2, Bustos L1, Velazquez M1, Lanas F1, Rojas R2
1Universidad de La Frontera
2Pontificia Universidad Católica
Abstract
Background: The secondary prevention plays a fundamental role in patients after a cardiovascular event. One of the most effective interventions is Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR), but in Chile, this service is given only to 5% of candidate patients, mainly in urban areas and in the private health system, apparently due to its higher costs in comparison with usual care.

Objectives: To assess the cost-effectiveness of CR compared with usual care in survivors from an Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) from the perspective of the public health system in Chile.

Methods: A Markov Model was developed with 5 health states: ACS survivor, Second ACS, Complications, General Mortality, and CV Mortality. The transition probabilities between health states for usual care and corresponding relative risk (RR) for CR where obtained from a Cochrane systematic review. Health benefits were expressed as utilities and measured trough the EQ-5D-3L survey. Costs for each health state were identified and quantified from the national cost verification study and in some cases from focus surveys. The CR cost was estimated by a micro-costing system. Time horizon was lifetime and discount rate for both costs and outcomes was 3% per year. Deterministic and probabilistic analysis was performed with TreeAge Pro ©. Structural uncertainty was managed by designing of 3 scenarios: CR as actually is delivered in a specific public health centre (San José Model); CR as is recommended by South-American Guidelines (South-American Model), and CR as is proposed for low-resource settings (Low-Resource Model).

Results: Cost-effectiveness results of CR versus usual care showed an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for San José Model of $ 152,73 USD, for South-American Model of $ 358,70 USD, and for Low Resource Model of $ 128,92 USD. The estimated cost of CR for one entire programme for one patient was from $ 58,14 USD in the Low-Resource Model to $ 490,12 USD in the South-American Model.

Conclusions: Considering a cost effectiveness threshold of 1 GDP per capita (about $ 20.000 USD) the CR is highly cost effective for the public health system in Chile.