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Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation: A cost assessment based on a randomized clinical trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2006

Marie Kruse
Affiliation:
National Institute of Public Health
Stefan Hochstrasser
Affiliation:
Bispebjerg Hospital
Ann-Dorthe O. Zwisler
Affiliation:
National Institute of Public Health and Holbæk Hospital
Jakob Kjellberg
Affiliation:
DSI Danish Institute for Health Services Research

Abstract

Objectives: The costs of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation are established and compared to the corresponding costs of usual care. The effect on health-related quality of life is analyzed.

Methods: An unprecedented and very detailed cost assessment was carried out, as no guidelines existed for the situation at hand. Due to challenging circumstances, the cost assessment turned out to be ex-post and top-down.

Results: Cost per treatment sequence is estimated to be approximately €976, whereas the incremental cost (compared with usual care) is approximately €682. The cost estimate is uncertain and may be as high as €1.877.

Conclusions: Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation is more costly than usual care, and the higher costs are not outweighed by a quality of life gain. Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation is, therefore, not cost-effective.

Type
GENERAL ESSAYS
Copyright
© 2006 Cambridge University Press

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