domingo, 11 de noviembre de 2012

Non-emergency angioplasty costs higher in hospitals without back-up surgery / American Heart Association

Non-emergency angioplasty costs higher in hospitals without back-up surgery / American Heart Association

Angioplasty Update

Angioplasty Update

New on the MedlinePlus Angioplasty page:

11/04/2012 07:00 PM EST

Source: American Heart Association

Non-emergency angioplasty costs higher in hospitals without back-up surgery

American Heart Association Late-Breaking Clinical Trial Report - Embargoed until 5:52 p.m. PT/ 8:52 p.m. ET
Study highlights:
  • Angioplasty costs for treating patients with stable symptoms are slightly higher in hospitals that do not have emergency heart surgery back-up, compared to those that do, according to a new economic analysis.
  • Cost differences were driven by higher room costs and more readmissions in hospitals without surgical back-up.
LOS ANGELES, November 4, 2012 — Angioplasty External link PDF file costs were higher in hospitals not equipped with emergency back-up heart surgery, compared to those hospitals that are, according to late-breaking clinical trial research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2012.
During angioplasty, a catheter with a small balloon, often deploying a metal mesh tube, called a stent, is inserted into a narrowed artery to open it, increase blood flow and reduce symptoms like chest pain. The Cardiovascular Patient Outcomes Research Outcomes of Percutaneous Team (C-PORT-E) clinical trial found that elective angioplasty performed in hospitals without heart surgery capabilities had similar safety and efficacy as those performed at hospitals with on-site cardiac surgery. That finding shifted the focus to whether non-surgery hospitals can perform these procedures at a similar cost.
Increasingly, hospitals without on-site cardiac surgery are opting to offer elective angioplasty in house, rather than transferring patients to hospitals with surgical back-up. To compare cost-effectiveness, this first large, multi-center study of its kind analyzed the expenses associated with non-emergency angioplasty in hospitals with and without cardiac surgery.
Investigators analyzed billing data from 18,273 patients (average age 64, 79 percent white and 63 percent male) treated in 59 hospitals in 10 states.
Nine months after treatment, investigators found that average cumulative medical costs were $23,991 in surgery-equipped hospitals, versus $25,460 in non-surgery hospitals. Two factors contributed to this difference — the study protocol required non-surgery hospitals to use intensive care units for post-angioplasty care and patients treated at these hospitals were more likely than those receiving angioplasty at cardiac equipped hospitals to be readmitted nine months after treatment.
“Our findings have relevance for healthcare policymakers and providers,” said Eric L. Eisenstein, D.B.A., lead author of the study and assistant professor of medicine, and community and family medicine at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C. “These results should provide caution for hospitals without cardiac surgery back-up considering the implementation of non-primary, or non-emergency, angioplasty services. There is no guarantee that a community hospital can provide angioplasty services at costs comparable with those of major hospitals with on-site cardiac surgery.”
According to the American Heart Association, more than 1 million coronary artery opening procedures are performed each year.
Hospitals considering the addition of non-primary angioplasty services should make sure they will have sufficient patient volume to cover the fixed costs of establishing and operating these facilities, Eisenstein said.
Co-authors include Linda Davidson-Ray, M.A.; Rex Edwards; Kevin J. Anstrom, Ph.D.; Patricia A. Cowper, Ph.D.; Daniel B. Mark, M.D., M.P.H.;and Thomas R. Aversano, M.D.
John Hopkins University funded the study through a research grant to Duke University Medical Center.
Follow news from the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2012 via Twitter: @HeartNews External link.
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Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position.  The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events.  The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content.  Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at www.heart.org/corporatefunding External link.
Note: The C-Port-E presentation is 5:52 p.m. PT, Sunday, Nov. 4, in Hall G.
For Media Inquiries:
AHA News Media in Dallas: (214) 706-1396
AHA News Media Office, Nov. 3-7
at the Los Angeles Convention Center: (213) 743-6205
For Public Inquiries:  (800) AHA-USA1 (242-8721)

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