Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) today released 5-year economic analysis data from its Reverse study of patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, touting longer lifespans and long-term cost efficiency compared to optimal medical therapy.
Results from the Reverse trial were published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure.
“These new data expand upon the current evidence and guidelines for the treatment of heart failure, by showing that CRT in patients with mildly symptomatic heart failure is beneficial, both from a clinical perspective, as well as from a financial perspective. Reverse confirms that implanting CRT earlier slows the progression of heart failure, reduces heart failure-related hospitalizations and deaths, and prolongs life, all while being very cost-effective,” Dr. Michael Gold of the Medical University of South Carolina said in a prepared release.
Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic touted Reverse as the largest study looking to explore the long-term clinical impact and survival benefit of CRT-D devices compared with CRT pacers, and as the 1st study to report cost-efficiency of CRT when implanted early in the disease state.
Economic analysis data from the 610-patient prospective, randomized, double-blinded Reverse study indicated that, under a Medicare setting, CRT is a cost-effective option for patients with mild-heart failure.
Medtronic said that results showed that patients receiving CRT therapy had an incremental cost effectiveness ratio of $8,840 per quality-adjusted life year when compared to those not receiving CRT therapy. Data also indicated that patients treated with CRT-D devices showed a 2.77 year improvement in survival compared to CRT-P devices, resulting in an ICER of $43,678 per QALY over a patient’s lifetime.
Data also indicated that CRT use delays disease progression, making CRT-Ds effectively cost-neutral compared to implanting an ICD initially, with a CRT-D to follow as the disease progresses.
“While CRT has long been established as a therapy that significantly improves outcomes for patients with heart failure, it is consistently underutilized. Not only does Reverse demonstrate the clinical benefit of CRT, it also quantifies the economic value of CRT, providing hospital systems with valuable information to help make informed decisions about CRT as a treatment option and the optimal timing of CRT for patients with heart failure. Ultimately, the goal is to increase value by improving patient outcomes and optimizing costs,” Medtronic heart failure biz GM Dr. David Steinhaus said in a press release.
