Impact of Atrial Fibrillation Burden on Health Care Costs and Utilization

BACKGROUND

Integrating patient-specific cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-detected atrial fibrillation (AF) burden with measures of health care cost and utilization allows for an accurate assessment of the AF-related impact on health care use.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to assess the incremental cost of device-recognized AF vs no AF; compare relative costs of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (pAF), persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF), and permanent atrial fibrillation (PermAF) AF; and evaluate rates and sources of health care utilization between cohorts.

METHODS

Using the de-identified Optum Clinformatics U.S. claims database (2015-2020) linked with the Medtronic CareLink database, CIED patients were identified who transmitted data ≥6 months postimplantation. Annualized per-patient costs in follow-up were analyzed from insurance claims and adjusted to 2020 U.S. dollars. Costs and rates of health care utilization were compared between patients with no AF and those with device-recognized pAF, PeAF, and PermAF. Analyses were adjusted for geographical region, insurance type, CHA2DS2-VASc score, and implantation year.

RESULTS

Of 21,391 patients (mean age 72.9 ± 10.9 years; 56.3% male) analyzed, 7,798 (36.5%) had device-recognized AF. The incremental annualized increased cost in those with AF was $12,789 ± $161,749 per patient, driven by increased rates of health care encounters, adverse clinical events associated with AF, and AF-specific interventions. Among those with AF, PeAF was associated with the highest cost, driven by increased rates of inpatient and outpatient hospitalization encounters, heart failure hospitalizations, and AF-specific interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Presence of device-recognized AF was associated with increased health care cost. Among those with AF, patients with PeAF had the highest health care costs. Mechanisms for cost differentials include both disease-specific consequences and physician-directed interventions.

Cost-effectiveness of an insertable cardiac monitor in a high-risk population in the US

BACKGROUND

Insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) are a clinically effective means of detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) in high-risk patients, and guiding the initiation of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs). Their cost-effectiveness from a US clinical payer perspective is not yet known. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ICMs compared to standard of care (SoC) for detecting AF in patients at high risk of stroke (CHADS₂ ≥ 2), in the US.

METHODS

Using patient data from the REVEAL AF trial (n = 393, average CHADS₂ score = 2.9), a Markov model estimated the lifetime costs and benefits of detecting AF with an ICM or with SoC (specifically intermittent use of electrocardiograms and 24-h Holter monitors). Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, intra- and extra-cranial hemorrhages, and minor bleeds were modelled. Diagnostic and device costs, costs of treating stroke and bleeding events and medical therapy-specifically costs of NOACs were included. Costs and health outcomes, measured as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), were discounted at 3% per annum, in line with standard practice in the US setting. One-way deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (PSA) were undertaken.

RESULTS

Lifetime per-patient cost for ICM was $31,116 versus $25,330 for SoC. ICMs generated a total of 7.75 QALYs versus 7.59 for SoC, with 34 fewer strokes projected per 1000 patients. The model estimates a number needed to treat of 29 per stroke avoided. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $35,528 per QALY gained. ICMs were cost-effective in 75% of PSA simulations, using a $50,000 per QALY threshold, and a 100% probability of being cost-effective at a WTP threshold of $150,000 per QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of ICMs to identify AF in a high-risk population is likely to be cost-effective in the US healthcare setting.

A cost comparison of atrial fibrillation monitoring strategies after embolic stroke of undetermined source

Background

Detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is challenging due to its paroxysmal nature. We sought to assess AF detection with an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) and to perform cost analysis for various AF monitoring strategies post-ESUS We applied this cost analysis modeling to recently published Stroke AF and Per Diem trials.

Methods

Retrospective chart review was performed in consecutive hospitalized patients with ESUS who had ICM placed prior to discharge. Utilizing rate of ICM-detected AF and Medicare average payments, we modeled 30-day per-patient diagnostic costs of Immediate ICM insertion prior to discharge versus using a wearable monitor followed by ICM in patients with ESUS, from Medicare and patient out-of-pocket perspectives. Similar modeling strategy and cost analysis was applied to the Stroke AF and Per Diem trials.

Results

In 192 ESUS patients, AF detection increased with length of monitoring: 7.3 % at 14 days, 9.4 % at 30 days, and 17.2 % after a median ~ 6 months (189 days). Cost modeling predicted that immediate ICM leads to $3683-$4070 lower Medicare payments per-patient and $1425-$1503 lower patient out-of-pocket costs compared to Wearable-to-ICM strategies. Using similar modeling in the PER DIEM and STROKE AF trials, the additive costs of the 30-day ELR to ICM strategy ranged from $3786-$3946 from a payer perspective and $1472-$1503 from a patient out-of-pocket perspective.

Conclusions

Use of ICM immediately after ESUS is cost-saving compared to Wearable-to-ICM strategies, due to the cost and low diagnostic yield of short-term wearable cardiac monitoring.

Syncope Recurrence and Downstream Diagnostic Testing after Insertable Cardiac Monitor Placement for Syncope

Despite advances in syncope evaluation strategies and risk stratification, the high cost of syncope is largely driven by extensive and often repetitive testing. This analysis of a large deidentified US claims database compared the use of diagnostic tests, therapeutic procedures, and the recurrence rate of acute syncope events before and after placement of an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) in syncope patients. The patients had a minimum of 1 year of continuous enrollment before and 2 years after ICM placement. Among 2140 patients identified, a statistically significant reduction in the use of 14 out of 18 tests was observed during follow-up compared with pre-ICM testing. During the 2-year follow-up, 28.3% of patients underwent cardiac therapeutic interventions after a median of 127 days. Significantly fewer patients experienced acute syncope events during the 1st and 2nd years of ICM follow-up compared with the 1-year pre-ICM period, and the frequency of events per patient also decreased. In conclusion, reductions in diagnostic testing and acute syncope events were observed after ICM placement in a large real-world cohort of unexplained syncope patients. Further studies are needed to prospectively assess the impact of ICM vs. short-term monitoring on patient outcomes and healthcare utilization.

Longitudinal Outcomes in Cryptogenic Stroke Patients With and Without Long-term Cardiac Monitoring for Atrial Fibrillation

Background

Guidelines recommend a confirmed diagnosis of atrial fibrillation (AF) to initiate oral anticoagulation in cryptogenic stroke (CS) patients. However, the intermittent nature of AF can make detection challenging with intermittent short-term cardiac monitoring.

Objective

The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to examine post-CS utilization of cardiac monitoring and associated clinical outcomes.

Methods

Adults with incident hospitalization for CS were identified in the Optum® claims database and assessed for cardiac monitoring received poststroke. Patient were stratified into those with a long-term insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) vs external cardiac monitor (ECM) only. The timing of ICM placement poststroke was treated as a time-dependent covariate. The clinical outcomes of interest were time to AF diagnosis, oral anticoagulation usage, and all-cause mortality.

Results

A total of 12,994 patients met selection criteria for the analysis, of whom 1949 (15%) received an ICM and 11,045 (85%) received ECM only. In those who had received an ECM as their first monitoring modality, only 4.4% moved on to receive an ICM for longer-term monitoring. Use of ECM before ICM was associated with a longer time to AF diagnosis (median 336 vs 194 days). Compared to those with ECM only, ICM patients had a significantly lower rate of death (hazard ratio [HR] 0.70; P = .004), and faster time to AF diagnosis (HR 1.50; P <.0001) and anticoagulation initiation (HR 1.57; P <.0001) during follow-up of up to 5 years after CS.

Conclusion

In a real-world study of CS patients, prolonged cardiac monitoring was associated with higher rates of AF detection and treatment, and higher odds of survival.

Burden of oral anticoagulation in embolic stroke of undetermined source without atrial fibrillation

Objective

Prevention of recurrent stroke in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is challenging. The advent of safer anticoagulation in the form of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) has prompted exploration of prophylactic anticoagulation for all ESUS patients, rather than anticoagulating just those with documented atrial fibrillation (AF). However, recent trials have failed to demonstrate a clinical benefit, while observing increased bleeding. We modeled the economic impact of anticoagulating ESUS patients without documented AF across multiple geographies.

Methods

CRYSTAL-AF trial data were used to assess ischaemic stroke event rates in ESUS patients confirmed AF-free after long-term monitoring. Anticipated bleeding event rates (including both minor and major bleeds) with aspirin, dabigatran 150 mg, and rivaroxaban 20 mg were sourced from published meta-analyses, whilst a 30% ischaemic stroke reduction for both DOACs was assumed. Cost data for clinical events and pharmaceuticals were collected from the local payer perspective.

Results

Compared with aspirin, dabigatran and rivaroxaban resulted in 17.9 and 29.9 additional bleeding events per 100 patients over a patient’s lifetime, respectively. Despite incorporating into our model the proposed 30% reduction in ischaemic stroke risk, both DOACs were cost-additive over patient lifetime, as the costs of bleeding events and pharmaceuticals outweighed cost savings associated with the reduction in ischaemic strokes. DOACs added £5953–£7018 per patient (UK), €6683–€7368 (Netherlands), €4933–€9378 (Spain), AUD$5353–6539 (Australia) and $26,768–$32,259 (US) of payer cost depending on the agent prescribed. Additionally, in the U.S. patient pharmacy co-payments ranged from $2468–$12,844 depending on agent and patient plan. In all settings, cost-savings could not be demonstrated even when the modelling assumed 100% protection from recurrent ischaemic strokes, due to the very low underlying risk of recurrent ischaemic stroke in this population (1.27 per 100 patient-years).

Conclusions

Anticoagulation of non-AF patients may cause excess bleeds and add substantial costs for uncertain benefits, suggesting a personalised approach to anticoagulation in ESUS patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12872-021-01967-x.

Economic value of insertable cardiac monitors in unexplained syncope in the United States

INTRODUCTION

Early use of insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) is recommended for patients with unexplained syncope following initial clinical workup, due to its superior ability to establish symptom-rhythm correlation compared with conventional testing (CONV). However, ICMs incur higher upfront costs, and the impact of additional diagnoses and resulting treatment on downstream costs and outcomes is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of ICM compared with CONV for the diagnosis of arrhythmia in patients with unexplained syncope, from a US payer perspective.

METHODS

A Markov model was developed to estimate lifetime costs and benefits of arrhythmia diagnosis with ICM versus CONV, considering all related diagnostic and arrhythmia-related treatment costs and consequences. Cohort characteristics and costs were informed by original claims database analyses. Risks of mortality, syncopal recurrence, injury due to syncope and quality of life consequences from syncopal events were identified from the literature.

RESULTS

ICM was less costly and more effective than CONV. Most of the observed US$4532 cost savings were attributed to reduced downstream diagnostic testing. For every 1000 patients, ICM was projected to yield an additional 253 arrhythmia diagnoses and lead to treatment in an additional 168 patients. The ICM strategy resulted in overall improved outcomes (0.30 quality-adjusted life years gained), due to a reduction in syncope recurrence and injury resulting from arrhythmia treatment. The results were robust to changes in the base case parameters but sensitive to the model time horizon, underlying probability of syncope recurrence and prevalence of arrhythmias.

CONCLUSIONS

Our model projected that early ICM for the diagnosis of unexplained syncope reduced long-term costs, and led to an improvement in overall clinical outcomes by shortening time to arrhythmia treatment. The cost of ICM was outweighed by savings arising from fewer downstream diagnostic episodes, and the increased cost of treatment was counterbalanced by fewer syncope-related event costs.

Cost-effectiveness of an insertable cardiac monitor to detect atrial fibrillation in patients with cryptogenic stroke

Background: We assessed cost-effectiveness of insertable cardiac monitors (ICMs) in a US cryptogenic stroke population. Materials & methods: We modelled lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years for three monitoring strategies post cryptogenic stroke: ICM starting immediately, ICM starting after Holter monitoring (delayed ICM) and standard of care involving intermittent ECG and Holter monitoring. Patient characteristics and detection efficacy were based on the CRYSTAL-AF trial. AF detection altered the modelled anticoagulation therapy and subsequent stroke and bleed risks. Results & conclusion: Immediate ICM was found to be cost-effective versus standard of care and cost-saving versus delayed ICM. Results were robust to sensitivity analyses. ICMs are a cost-effective diagnostic tool for the prevention of recurrent stroke in a US cryptogenic stroke population.

Abstract 286: Clinic Time Required To Manage Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Patients: A Time And Motion Workflow Evaluation

Background: The number of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is growing, creating workload for device clinics to manage this population. Remote monitoring of CIED patients is a guidelines-recommended method for optimizing treatment in CIED patients in combination with in-person follow-up. However, the specific steps involved in CIED management, as well as the HCP time required for these activities, are not well understood. The aim of this study was to quantify the clinic staff time requirements associated with the remote and in-person management of CIED patients.

Methods: A time and motion workflow evaluation was performed in 6 U.S. CIED clinics. Participating clinics manage an average of 4,217 (range: 870-10,336) CIED patients. The duration of each task involved in CIED management was repeatedly timed, for all device models/manufacturers, during one business week (5 days) of observation at each clinic. Mean time for review of a remote transmission and for an in-person clinic visit were calculated, including all clinical and administrative (e.g., scheduling, documentation) activities related to the encounter. Annual staff time (inclusive of all clinical and administrative staff) for follow-up of 1 CIED patient was modeled using device transmission data for the 6 clinics, clinical guidelines for CIED follow-up, and published literature (Table 1).

Results: During 6 total weeks of data collection, 124 in-person clinic visits and 1,374 remote transmission review activities were observed and measured. On average, the total staff time required per remote transmission ranged from 11.9-13.5 minutes (depending on the CIED type), and time per in-person visit ranged from 43.4-51.0 minutes. Including all remote and in-person follow-ups, the estimated total staff time per year to manage one Pacemaker, ICD, CRT, and ICM patient was 2.3, 2.4, 2.4, and 9.3 hours, respectively.

Conclusion: CIED patient management workflow is complex and requires significant staff time in cardiac device clinics. Remote monitoring is an efficient complement for in-office visits, allowing for continuous follow-up of patients with reduced staff time required per device check. Future research should examine heterogeneity in patient management processes to identify the most efficient workflow.

Abstract 272: Sensitivity of Conventional Monitoring Strategies to Diagnose Patients With Pause Arrhythmias Relative to Insertable Cardiac Monitors

Background: Diagnosing cardiac pauses that could produce syncopal episodes is clinically important to guide appropriate therapy. However, the infrequent nature of these episodes can make their detection a challenge with conventional monitoring (CM) strategies with short-term ECG monitors. We simulated several CM strategies and analyzed the sensitivity to diagnose patients with pause arrhythmias compared to continuous monitoring with an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM).

Methods: CM was simulated from syncope patients’ ICM data by assuming the 1st detected true pause episode (≥5s) was symptomatic and prompted further evaluation. Based on published literature, 32% of patients were assumed to be admitted for 3 days of inpatient monitoring followed by CM of varying durations (24 or 48 hrs, and 14, 30 or 60 days) beginning at random within the next week; the other 68% were assumed to be discharged home, with CM of varying durations beginning at random within the next week. Subsequent true pause episodes in patients remaining undiagnosed with CM triggered additional rounds of CM, with simulations repeated 1,000 times. Longer pause definitions of ≥6-8s were also evaluated. ECG diagnosis was considered successful if a pause episode occurred simultaneous to CM.

Results: A total of 105 true pause episodes from 44 patients (mean±SD age 66±17, 48% male) were detected by ICM, during 505±333 days of continuous follow-up. Patients experienced an average of 2.4±2.7 pause episodes ≥5s during follow-up. Relative to ICM-diagnosed patients, the mean sensitivity of CM to capture an ECG diagnosis for these pause episodes during follow-up ranged from 13.8% (on average, 6.1 of 44 patients) with 24-hr holter to 30.2% with two 30-day monitors (13.3 of 44 patients) (Figure). Sensitivity further decreased for pause durations of ≥6-8s, due to the less frequent occurrence of these episodes and consequently lower likelihood of capture with CM. Average days of follow-up without a diagnosis was 109 days with ICM versus a range of 384-452 days with CM modalities.

Conclusion: Of syncope patients diagnosed with pause arrhythmias via ICM, the vast majority would go undiagnosed via CM strategies and therefore may not be optimally managed for syncope prevention. The cost-effectiveness of these strategies requires further study.

Abstract 287: Vendor-neutral Clinic Management Software Use Is Associated With Time Savings For Remote Monitoring

Background: As cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) have increased in complexity and sophistication, a transition from in-person follow-up to remote device management has taken place. The amount of information collected via cardiac devices has also increased, making the development of efficient workflows necessary for operational sustainability. Vendor-neutral clinic management software organizes patient, device, and programmer information, and thus has potential to improve remote monitoring workflow and data management. This study sought to examine whether management software use is associated with reduced time to review manage remote transmissions.

Methods: A time and motion workflow analysis was performed in 6 U.S. cardiac device clinics, 3 of which use management software (Medtronic Paceart Optima™). Participating sites had an average size of 4,217 (range of 870 to 10,336) CIED patients managed. Each step involved in remote transmission review (including all clinical and administrative tasks, such as chart documentation and billing) was repeatedly timed, for all device models/manufacturers, during one business week (5 days) of observation at each clinic. The time to review an average remote transmission was calculated based on the mean time to perform each step as well as published literature, and stratified by sites with or without management software. Annual staff time required for remote monitoring was modeled by multiplying the average remote transmission review time by the average number of annual transmissions per patient across the 6 sites: 16.1 transmissions/year, representing a weighted average of therapeutic cardiac devices (4.2 transmissions/year) and insertable cardiac monitors (38.9 transmissions/year).

Results: A total of 1,290 remote transmission review activities (725 with management software; 565 without management software) were observed and measured during 6 weeks of data collection. On average, the total staff time to review a remote transmission was 2.1 minutes lower at sites with management software (13.6 vs. 11.5 minutes). Extrapolated to the average clinic size of 4,217 patients, this translates into a potential annual time savings of 2,329 hours for sites with management software (13,026 vs. 15,355 hours of total transmission review time). This represents collective time savings across all clinical and administrative staff, and equates to 1.24 annual full-time equivalents (6.9 vs. 8.2 full-time equivalents).

Conclusion: Remote monitoring of CIED patients requires significant staff time in cardiac device clinics. Management software is an effective tool in optimizing management of remotely monitored patients, and these benefits may translate into time savings for cardiac device clinics.

Shared decision-making for biologic treatment of autoimmune disease: influence on adherence, persistence, satisfaction, and health care costs

BACKGROUND

Shared decision-making (SDM), a process whereby physicians and patients collaborate to select interventions, is not well understood for biologic treatment of autoimmune conditions.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional survey of adults initiating treatment for Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis (inflammatory bowel disease, IBD) or psoriatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis (RA/PA). Survey data were linked to administrative claims for 6 months before (baseline) and after (follow-up) therapy initiation. Measures included the Shared Decision Making Questionnaire, Patient Activation Measure (PAM), Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS), general health, and treatment satisfaction. Claims-based Quan-Charlson comorbidity scores, persistence, medication possession ratio (MPR), and health care costs were examined. Patients were compared by participation (SDM) and nonparticipation (non-SDM) in SDM.

RESULTS

Among 453 respondents, 357 were eligible, and 306 patients (204 RA/PA and 102 IBD) were included in all analyses. Overall (n=357), SDM participants (n=120) were more often females (75.0% vs 62.5%, P=0.018), had lower health status (48.0 vs 55.4, P=0.005), and higher Quan-Charlson scores (1.0 vs 0.7, P=0.035) than non-SDM (n=237) participants. Lower MMAS scores (SDM 0.17 vs non-SDM 0.41; P<0.05) indicated greater likelihood of adherence; SDM participants also reported higher satisfaction with medication and had greater activation (PAM: SDM vs non-SDM: 66.9 vs 61.6; P<0.001). Mean MPR did not differ, but persistence was longer among SDM participants (111.2 days vs 102.2 days for non-SDM; P=0.029). Costs did not differ by SDM status overall, or among patients with RA/PA. The patients with IBD, however, experienced lower (P=0.003) total costs ($9,404 for SDM vs $25,071 for non-SDM) during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

This study showed greater likelihood of adherence and satisfaction for patients who engaged in SDM and reduced health care costs among patients with IBD who engaged in SDM. This study provides a basis for defining SDM participation and detecting differences by SDM participation for biologic treatment selection for autoimmune conditions.