title: Cost-of-illness studies of atrial fibrillation: methodological considerations.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm arrhythmia, which has considerable economic consequences. This study aims to identify the current cost-of-illness estimates of AF; a focus was put on describing the studies' methodology. A literature review was conducted. Twenty-eight cost-of-illness studies were identified. Cost-of-illness estimates exist for health insurance members, hospital and primary care populations. In addition, the cost of stroke in AF patients and the costs of post-operative AF were calculated. The methods used were heterogeneous, mostly studies calculated excess costs. The identified annual excess costs varied, even among studies from the USA (∼US$1900 to ∼US$19,000). While pointing toward considerable costs, the cost-of-illness studies' relevance could be improved by focusing on subpopulations and treatment mixes. As possible starting points for subsequent economic studies, the methodology of cost-of-illness studies should be taken into account using methods, allowing stakeholders to find suitable studies and validate estimates.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Economics and Health Care Management, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D017048:Health Care Costs; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics; D018803:Models, Economic; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics; D020521:Stroke / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: atrial fibrillation; cost-of-illness; decision support technique; health economics; review