title: Cost-effectiveness of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation.
abstract: Radiofrequency catheter ablation has become an established treatment option for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Although the concept of a rhythm control strategy devoid of the adverse events related to antiarrhythmic treatment seems highly attractive, further steps are needed in order to improve our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, refine our ablative techniques, and increase our therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, the increased cost of AF catheter ablation combined with the substantial number of potential candidates also mandates the evaluation of this invasive treatment through a cost-effectiveness prism. In the present review, we recapitulate the existing evidence pertaining to cost-effectiveness of AF catheter ablation as well as the shortcomings, peculiarities, and distinctive aspects of such a cost-to-benefit analysis.
authors.affiliation: First Cardiac Department, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andrikopoulos
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tzeis
authors.forename: Nikos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maniadakis
authors.forename: Hercules E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Mavrakis
authors.forename: Panos E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Vardas
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents