Recent temporal trends in hospital costs for non-surgical patients receiving implantable cardioverter defibrillators

J Interv Card Electrophysiol. 2022 Mar;63(2):231-237. doi: 10.1007/s10840-021-00956-6. Epub 2021 Feb 11.

Abstract

Purpose: Many studies have analyzed the cost-effectiveness of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), but hospital costs have not been as thoroughly reported. This study reviewed the associated hospital costs for non-surgical patients who received ICDs from 2015 to 2019.

Methods: We performed a retrospective single-center analysis of patients who received an ICD between 2015 and 2019. ICD cost was analyzed with respect to time using linear regression t-test analysis.

Results: For 304 patients, we trended cost of the devices over time. 168 (55.2%) cases were single-chamber devices, 53 (17.4%) were dual-chamber, 59 (19.4%) were cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillators (CRT-D), and 24 (7.9%) were subcutaneous devices. The cost of all ICDs decreased by -$1.82/day (p<0.001), R2 = 0.056. By type, cost of single-chamber devices decreased by -$2.56/day (p<0.001), R2 = 0.47, dual-chamber ICD by -$3.50/day (p<0.001), R2 = 0.51, CRT-D by -$4.07/day (p<0.001), R2 = 0.47, and subcutaneous by -$3.33/day (p<0.001), R2 = 0.83.

Conclusion: This is the first detailed analysis of ICD costs that we are aware of. The cost of all ICDs decreased modestly and became much greater when categorized by type. Overall hospital cost associated with ICD implantation did not show a significant trend, but total supply cost showed a significant decrease over time.

Keywords: Cost utility; Hospitalization costs; Implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

MeSH terms

  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Defibrillators, Implantable*
  • Hospital Costs
  • Humans
  • Retrospective Studies