Key result
Ablation for cardiac arrhythmias was associated with lower postablation costs compared to nonablation, with estimated total ablation-period costs recovered 38 to 50 months postablation.
Why the study?
Does ablation reduce employer-sponsored healthcare and absence costs in patients with cardiac arrhythmias?
Cohort (n=11,291)
Does ablation reduce employer-sponsored healthcare and absence costs in patients with cardiac arrhythmias?
Ablation for cardiac arrhythmias may reduce long-term healthcare and absence costs for employers, with initial procedure costs recovered within 38 to 50 months.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
May lower employer costs in arrhythmia patients; leaves open causal effects and broader applicability.
OBJECTIVE: To measure relative employer-sponsored postablation costs for cardiac arrhythmias (CA), specifically atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: Regression-Controlled Employee/Spouse Database study (2001 to 2008) comparing CA patients with and without ablation and AF patients with and without ablation. Regression-adjusted monthly medical, pharmacy, sick leave, and short-term disability costs were calculated 11 months before index to 36 months after index (first ablation date or average date for nonablation patients). Relative pre/postindex comparisons between ablation and nonablation cohorts were calculated and time until ablation procedure cost recovery extrapolated. RESULTS: Few CA (280 of 11,291; 2.48%) and AF (93 of 3062; 3.04%) patients received ablation. Ablation cohorts cost less than nonablation cohorts postablation. Estimated total ablation-period costs were recovered 38 to 50 months postablation, including employee absence payment recovery within 18 months. CONCLUSION: Current ablation use in employer-sponsored health plans may improve health care and absence costs over time.
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Kleinman et al. (2011) conducted a cohort in Cardiac arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation (n=11,291). Ablation vs. No ablation was evaluated on Postablation costs and time until ablation procedure cost recovery. Ablation for cardiac arrhythmias was associated with lower postablation costs compared to nonablation, with estimated total ablation-period costs recovered 38 to 50 months postablation.
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