title: Cost-effectiveness of radial vs. femoral approach in primary percutaneous coronary intervention in STEMI - Randomized, control trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Primary percutaneous coronary intervention infarction became the preferred method of treatment for myocardial ST segment elevation. Improved safety was reported in transradial access (radial) compared to transfemoral access (femoral). The aim of this study was to compare the cost between the two access points in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a subanalysis of the OCEAN RACE trial in which 103 myocardial infarction patients were randomized to either the radial (n=52) or femoral (n=51) groups. The clinical safety and efficacy were recorded during the hospital stay. The procedural metrics were meticulously logged, and costs were evaluated using the micro-cost method. The indirect costs were estimated using the human capital approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical success was numerically higher in the radial group (90.4 vs. 80.4%, p=0.123). There were no differences in major adverse cardiac events (9.6% vs. 11.8%, p=0.48) and death (2.0% vs. 6.0%, p=0.31). The average in-hospital cost per patient was 2,740 ± 1,092 EUR. The cost of therapeutic success was lower in the radial group at 3,060 EUR vs. 3,374 EUR. The indirect costs related to absence at work were 138 EUR per patient, which were lower in the radial group compared to the femoral group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The total in-hospital costs were similar between the study groups. The indirect costs were lower in the radial group. Introduction of radial access as the default approach in all centers may significantly reduce the overall financial burden from a social perspective.
authors: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. Electronic address: lukasz@koltowski.com.
authors: Łukasz
authors: Ł
authors: Kołtowski
authors: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Krzysztof J
authors: KJ
authors: Filipiak
authors: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Janusz
authors: J
authors: Kochman
authors: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Arkadiusz
authors: A
authors: Pietrasik
authors: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Zenon
authors: Z
authors: Huczek
authors: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Pawel
authors: P
authors: Balsam
authors: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Lewandowski
authors: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Karolina
authors: K
authors: Chojnacka
authors: 1st Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Grzegorz
authors: G
authors: Opolski
authors: Department of Pharmacoeconomics, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors: Witold
authors: W
authors: Wrona
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D017534:Radial Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D000072657:ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: acute coronary syndrome (ACS); costs; primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)