Key result
Sequential NT-proBNP screening before echocardiography linked to ~35% lower costs in suspected heart failure.
Why the study?
The potential economic benefit of using a sequential NT-proBNP testing strategy to reduce echocardiographies in suspected cardiac failure was not established.
Does a sequential testing strategy with NT-proBNP before echocardiography reduce costs and echocardiography demand in patients with suspected cardiac failure?
Observational
Yes
Does a sequential testing strategy with NT-proBNP before echocardiography reduce costs and echocardiography demand in patients with suspected cardiac failure?
Using NT-proBNP as a screening test before echocardiography in suspected heart failure can substantially reduce echocardiography demand and associated healthcare costs.
NT-proBNP sequential testing may cut echocardiography costs ~30% in Swedish counties; leaves open broader adoption and prospective validation.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the possible economic benefit of a sequential testing strategy with NT-proBNP to reduce the number of echocardiographies. METHODS: Retrospective study in a third-party payer perspective. The costs were calculated from three Swedish counties: Blekinge, Östergötland, and Uppland. Two cut-off levels of NT-proBNP were used: 400 and 300 pg/mL. The cost-effectiveness of the testing strategy was estimated through the short-term cost avoidance and reduction in demand for echocardiographies. RESULTS: The estimated costs for NT-proBNP tests and echocardiographies per county were reduced by 33%-36% with the 400 pg/mL cut-off and by 28%-29% with the 300 pg/mL cut-off. This corresponded to a yearly cost reduction of approximately €2-5 million per million inhabitants in these counties. CONCLUSION: The use of NT-proBNP as a screening test could substantially reduce the number of echocardiographies in the diagnostic work-up of patients with suspected cardiac failure, as well as the associated costs.
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Ferrandis et al. (2012) conducted an observational in Suspected cardiac failure. Sequential testing strategy with NT-proBNP before echocardiography was evaluated on Short-term cost avoidance and reduction in demand for echocardiographies. A sequential testing strategy using NT-proBNP before echocardiography reduced estimated costs by 33%-36% (400 pg/mL cut-off) and 28%-29% (300 pg/mL cut-off) in suspected cardiac failure.
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