Results from the STROKE AF clinical study demonstrated that continuous monitoring with Reveal Linq proved significantly more cost-effective than the standard of care in ischemic stroke patients with large artery and small vessel disease. Medtronic plans to present results at the AHA/ASA International Stroke Conference 2024 in Phoenix.
Medtronic reported data from 492 patients in the STROKE AF study. It took place across 33 centers in the U.S. Reveal Linq, meanwhile, received FDA clearance in 2014 and has availability worldwide. Previous results from STROKE AF demonstrated a boost in AFib detection registering about 10-fold among stroke patients.
The study projected that ICM patients experience 53 fewer ischemic strokes per 1,000 patients over their lifetimes compared to standard of care. Standard of care could include Holter monitoring, telemetry or event recorders. Additionally, Medtronic estimates a gain of 0.17 quality-adjusted life years at an incremental cost of $6,286. This led to an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $37,760 per quality-adjusted life year. That lands well below the established willingness-to pay threshold in the U.S. of $150,000 per quality-adjusted life year.
For ICM patients at the highest risk of AFib detection, the cost per quality-adjusted life year came in at just $22,016.
“This analysis – coupled with the most recent publication of the ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of AF – reaffirm the importance of insertable cardiac monitors for the detection and management of AF, which can impact secondary stroke prevention,” said Stacey Churchwell, VP and GM, Cardiovascular Diagnostics and Services within the Cardiac Rhythm Management business, which is part of the Cardiovascular Portfolio at Medtronic. “The Linq family of ICMs have not only demonstrated high sensitivity in detecting AF compared to standard monitoring, but now have additional economic value data further strengthening their role in post-stroke care.”
