Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) today touted data showing that a pair of algorithms improved treatment and lowered costs for patients treated with its cardiac resynchronization therapy devices.
The Fridley, Minn.-based medical device giant said its AdaptivCRT and EffectiveCRT algorithms lowered costs and improved therapy delivery in heart failure patients with atrial fibrillation. Results from 1 of 3 analyses presented at the European Heart Rhythm Assn. Europace Cardiostim conference in Vienna this week showed that the AdaptivCRT program cut the lifetime cost of treatment by an average of €1,055 (about $1,174) in 3 European countries:
| With AdaptivCRT | Without AdaptivCRT | Difference | |
| Italy | €28,113.00 | €29,215.16 | €1,102.16 |
| Spain | €29,618.89 | €30,833.93 | €1,215.04 |
| U.K. | €29,425.37 | €30,273.19 | €847.82 |
The study also showed that the algorithm extends life expectancy by an average of 4 months, Medtronic said.
A 2nd study used data from the CRTee study to show that the EffectivCRT program improved left ventricular pacing by 19% compared to devices without the technology. A 3rd analysis of Medtronic’s CRT-defibrillators showed “a highly significant increase” in projected device longevity of up to 9 years for the Claria and Amplia devices and 8.1 years for the Viva XT CRT-Ds.
“These analyses reinforce Medtronic’s leadership in providing treatments and solutions that not only improve patient outcomes and CRT delivery, but also dramatically reduce healthcare utilization,” CRT GM Dr. Kweli Thompson said in prepared remarks. “Beyond the clinical benefits of the AdaptivCRT and EffectivCRT algorithms, our newest devices with these features also demonstrate improved longevity.”
“It is exciting to see that this technology helps increase the amount of CRT delivered during atrial fibrillation,” added Dr. Giuseppe Boriani of the University of Modena & Reggio Emilia. “Many patients with heart failure experience AF at some point, and we now have the ability to better address the individual needs of these difficult-to-treat patients.”
“By improving device longevity, there are substantially fewer device replacements and, in turn, significant cost savings and fewer procedure-related complications,” said Dr. Haran Burri of the University Hospital of Geneva.
($1 = €0.89885)
