title: Economic and Social Impact of Increasing Uptake of Cardiac Rehabilitation Services--A Cost Benefit Analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac rehabilitation can reduce mortality, improve cardiac risk factor profile and reduce readmissions; yet uptake remains low at 30%. This research aims to investigate the social and economic impact of increasing the uptake of cardiac rehabilitation in Victoria, Australia using cost benefit analysis (CBA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cost benefit analysis has been undertaken over a 10-year period to analyse three scenarios: (1) Base Case: 30% uptake; (2) Scenario 1: 50% uptake; and (3) Scenario 2: 65% uptake. Impacts considered include cardiac rehabilitation program costs, direct inpatient costs, other healthcare costs, burden of disease, productivity losses, informal care costs and net deadweight loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is a net financial saving of $46.7-$86.7 million under the scenarios. Compared to the Base Case, an additional net benefit of $138.9-$227.2 million is expected. This results in a Benefit Cost Ratio of 5.6 and 6.8 for Scenarios 1 and 2 respectively. Disability Adjusted Life Years were 21,117-37,565 years lower than the Base Case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Greater uptake of cardiac rehabilitation can reduce the burden of disease, directly translating to benefits for society and the economy. This research supports the need for greater promotion, routine referral to be made standard practice and implementation of reforms to boost uptake.
authors.affiliation: EY, Economics, Regulation and Policy, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. Electronic address: elaine.de.gruyter@au.ey.com.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Gruyter
authors.affiliation: Heart Foundation (Victoria), Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: Heart Foundation (Victoria), Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stavreski
mesh_terms: D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018803:Models, Economic; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014739:Victoria
keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; Cardiac rehabilitation; Cost benefit analysis