title: Cost of atrial fibrillation: invasive vs non-invasive management in 2012.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. It places an enormous burden on the patients, caregivers and the society at large. As a chronic illness, AF accrues significant costs related to clinical presentation, complications and loss of productivity. Novel invasive approaches to AF promise a cure in some patients and a significant reduction in AF burden in others, but are very expensive. This paper will address the cost of conventional and invasive strategies in AF care and will review the evidence on the comparative cost effectiveness of these approaches.
authors.affiliation: Heart Rhythm Program, Southlake Regional Health Centre, 105-712 Davis Drive, Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 8C3, Canada. y.khaykin@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Yaariv
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Khaykin
authors.forename: Yana
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shamiss
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004617:Embolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D020521:Stroke / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents