[Integrated care for patients with heart failure in Switzerland: a cost analysis].
To assess the treatment costs of patients with heart failure in an integrated care model, we evaluated a Swiss primary care disease-management programme (DMP).


METHODS
We compared the direct medical costs per patient before joining the DMP (time interval 1: 365 days) with the direct medical costs per patient during attendance at the programme (time interval 2: 365 days). Possible cost savings were related to the costs of the DMP.


RESULTS
In 71 patients with heart failure, the average direct medical costs decreased after attendance at the program by -2'268 CHF (95% CI: -5'922 to +1'386). The average costs of the DMP were 2'100 CHF per patient.


CONCLUSIONS
The assessed DMP will hardly generate net savings in the first year, but may be cost neutral.
Eichler
K
K
Winterthurer Institut für Gesundheitsökonomie, Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. klaus.eichler@zhaw.ch
Krass
A
A
Fendl
A
A
Thüring
N
N
Brügger
U
U
D000368:Aged; D017046:Cost Savings; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000191:economics*; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000191:economics; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012648:Self Care / Q000191:economics; D013557:Switzerland