Multinational cost-effectiveness analysis of empagliflozin for heart failure patients with ejection fraction >40

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in the treatment of heart failure patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cost-utility studies

AIMS

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) have shown promise in reducing cardiovascular mortality and hospitalization due to heart failure (HF), a significant global health issue. This study aims to evaluate the incremental net benefit (INB) of SGLT-2i in HF patients through a systematic review and meta-analysis of cost-utility studies.

METHODS

We searched five databases from their inception until Aug 30, 2024, economic evolution studies reporting cost-effectiveness and cost-utility analyses comparing SGLT-2i combined with standard triple-therapy versus standard triple-therapy alone in HF patients were selected. INB as the primary outcome was calculated in monetary units adjusted for purchasing power parity in 2022 US dollars.

RESULTS

This review included 46 studies, with 41 studies (55 comparisons) pooled into meta-analysis. Adding SGLT2is was cost-effective compared to standard triple-therapy alone, from both healthcare system perspective (INB, $4042.08; 95 % CI, $1758.70-$6325.46) and payer perspective (INB, $12,972.84; 95 % CI, $4711.5-$21,234.22). However, subgroup analyses showed non-significant economic benefit in HF patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) both from the healthcare system perspective (INB, -$639.32; 95 % CI, -$1850.09-$571.44) and the payer perspective (INB, $3611.07; 95 % CI, -$208.49-$7430.64). Additionally, HF patients from low- and middle-income countries did not show significant economic benefit from the payer perspective (INB, $55,645.70; 95 % CI, -$51,000.00-$160,000.00).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that adding SGLT-2i is cost-effective compared to conventional standard triple-therapy alone, from both healthcare system and payer perspectives. Nevertheless, the economic benefits are limited in HFpEF and those from low- and middle-income countries. Further research is needed to explore the cost-effectiveness from a broader societal perspective.

Editors' highlight picks from 2023 in ESC heart failure

Heart failure is a devastating syndrome affecting an increasingly high number of patients worldwide. Its aetiology and pathogenesis are complex with the involvement of factors ranging from the genetic material through valvular dysfunctions to numerous organs beyond the entire cardiovascular system. Based on continuous efforts of the heart failure scientific community we have witnessed major advances in many related disciplines during the last year. For example, epidemiological aspects-paving the road for improved risk prevention-have been thoroughly analysed for various geographical regions. Additionally, evidence-based approaches now allow the introduction of novel guideline recommended medical therapies (i.e. sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors, and iron supplementation) while basic and translational research aim to explore additional molecular targets for future heart failure diagnostics and medications. All above aspects are addressed in this article, where a selection of articles published in the ESC Heart Failure journal in 2023 are highlighted. The editors are confident that the scientific contributions of ESC Heart Failure effectively served a highly relevant area of cardiovascular research last year.

A cost-effectiveness analysis of empagliflozin for heart failure patients across the full spectrum of ejection fraction in Spain: combined results of the EMPEROR-Preserved and EMPEROR-Reduced trials

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is a chronic condition with considerable clinical burden for patients and economic burden for healthcare systems. Treatment for HF is typically based on ejection fraction (EF) phenotype. The cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin + standard of care (SoC) compared to SoC has been examined for HF phenotypes below or above 40% EF separately, but not across the full spectrum of EF in Spain.

METHODS

The results of two preexisting, validated, and published phenotype-specific Markov cohort models were combined using a population-weighted approach, reflecting the incidence of each phenotype in the total HF population in Spain. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed by sampling each model's probabilistic results.

RESULTS

Empagliflozin + SoC compared to SoC resulted in increased life-years (LYs) (6.48 vs. 6.35), quality-adjusted LYs (QALYs) (4.80 vs. 4.63), and healthcare costs (€19,090 vs. €18,246), over a lifetime time horizon for the combined HF population in Spain. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was €5,089/QALY. All subgroup, scenario, and probabilistic ICERs were consistently below €10,000/QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

Empagliflozin is the first treatment with established efficacy and cost-effectiveness for HF patients across EF from the perspective of healthcare payers in Spain. Empagliflozin also proved to be cost-effective for all subgroups of patients included in the analysis.