Cost analysis from two randomized trials of sirolimus-eluting stents versus paclitaxel-eluting stents in high-risk patients with coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to analyze the cost of percutaneous coronary interventions with use of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) or paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) in patients at high risk of restenosis.


BACKGROUND
Recent studies have shown different clinical efficacy with these drug-eluting stents. Whether this difference extends on cost estimates between the 2 stents is not known.


METHODS
We included 450 patients with diabetes mellitus and in-stent restenosis from 2 randomized studies comparing SES with PES. Assigned costs for the economic evaluation were the initial hospitalization and all subsequent cardiac-related inpatient/outpatient health resources during 9 to 12 months of clinical follow-up. The economic evaluation was performed from the health insurance system's perspective.


RESULTS
There were no differences between the 2 study groups regarding mortality (p = 0.78) and myocardial infarction rates (p = 0.76). Target lesion revascularization was performed in 16 patients (7.1%) in the SES group and in 34 patients (15.1%) in the PES group (p = 0.01). Initial hospital costs were not significantly different between the 2 stents (p = 0.53). The follow-up costs were, however, different: 2,684 +/- 2,072 euros per patient treated with SES and 4,527 +/- 6,466 euros per patient treated with PES (p < 0.001). Total costs also differed at the end of the follow-up: 8,924 +/- 3,077 euros per patient treated with SES and 10,903 +/- 7,205 euros per patient treated with PES (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
In patients at high risk of restenosis, use of SES is associated with lower costs compared with PES. The cost savings are mainly due to the reduced need of repeat revascularization procedures with SES.
Elezi
Shpend
S
Deutsches Herzzentrum, Technische Universität; Munich, Germany.
Dibra
Alban
A
Folkerts
Ulrike
U
Mehilli
Julinda
J
Heigl
Sylvia
S
Schömig
Albert
A
Kastrati
Adnan
A
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000191:economics*; D002317:Cardiovascular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017046:Cost Savings; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics
D002317:Cardiovascular Agents; D017239:Paclitaxel; D020123:Sirolimus