Economic analysis of remote monitoring of cardiac implantable electronic devices: Results of the Health Economics Evaluation Registry for Remote Follow-up (TARIFF) study.
Remote monitoring (RM) of cardiac implantable electronic devices has been demonstrated to improve outpatient clinic workflow and patient management. However, few data are available on the socioeconomic impact of RM.



The aim of this study was to assess the costs and benefits of RM compared with standard care (SC).



We used 12-month patient data from the Health Economics Evaluation Registry for Remote Follow-up (TARIFF) study (N = 209; RM: n = 102 (48.81%); SC: n = 107 (51.19%)). Cost comparison was made from 2 perspectives: the health care system (HCS) and patients. The use of health care resources was defined on the basis of hospital clinical folders. Out-of-pocket expenses were reported directly by patients.



HCS perspective: The overall mean annual cost per patient in the SC group (€1044.89 ± €1990.47) was significantly higher than in the RM group (€482.87 ± €2488.10) (P < .0001), with a reduction of 53.87% being achieved in the RM group. The primary driver of cost reduction was the cost of cardiovascular hospitalizations (SC: €`886.67 ± €1979.13 vs RM: €432.34 ± €2488.10; P = .0030). Patient and caregiver perspective: The annual cost incurred by patients was significantly higher in the SC group than in the RM group (SC: €169.49 ± €189.50 vs RM: €56.87 ± €80.22; P < .0001). Patients' quality-adjusted life-years were not significantly different between the groups. Provider perspective: The total number of inhospital device follow-up visits was reduced by 58.78% in the RM group.



RM of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is cost saving from the perspectives of the HCS, patients, and caregivers. Introducing appropriate reimbursements will make RM sustainable even for the provider, i.e. the hospitals which provide the service and encourage widespread adoption of RM.
Department of Cardiology, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: renatopietroricci@tin.it.
Renato Pietro
RP
Ricci
Department of Cardiology, Casa di Cura Pederzoli, Peschiera del Garda, Italy.
Alfredo
A
Vicentini
Cardiology Division, V. Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Antonio
A
D'Onofrio
Department of Cardiology, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Antonio
A
Sagone
Electrophysiology and Cardiac Pacing Unit, San Gerardo Hospital, Monza, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Rovaris
Department of Cardiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.
Luigi
L
Padeletti
Department of Cardiology, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Loredana
L
Morichelli
Department of Cardiology, Casa di Cura Pederzoli, Peschiera del Garda, Italy.
Antonio
A
Fusco
Cardiology Division, V. Monaldi Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Stefano
S
De Vivo
Department of Cardiology, L. Sacco Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Leonida
L
Lombardi
Clinical Department, Milan, Italy.
Alessandra
A
Denaro
Clinical Department, Milan, Italy.
Annalisa
A
Pollastrelli
Health Economics & Reimbursement Department, St. Jude Medical Italy, Milan, Italy.
Irene
I
Colangelo
Department of Cardiology, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Massimo
M
Santini
D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000191:economics*; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D061214:Patient Safety; D012042:Registries; D019114:Remote Consultation / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
Cost-effectiveness; Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; Reimbursement; Remote monitoring; Telemedicine