Aims: To estimate healthcare resource use and direct healthcare costs of Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) in Sweden over 12 months across severity stages as defined by the New York Heart Association (NYHA). Secondary to investigate the current diagnostic trajectory for patients with ATTR-CM in Sweden.
Methods: A stratified inclusion of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ATTR-CM in different NYHA classes. Data was extracted from medical records in two cardiology clinics in Sweden. Healthcare resource use data were retrospectively collected for 12 months.
Results: 38 patients were included, of whom 7 were in NYHA class II, 20 in class III and 4 in class IV. The total cost of health care per patient increased from SEK 69,000 (€6800) in NYHA stage II, SEK 219,000 (€21,500) in NYHA stage III, to SEK 638,000 (€62,900) in stage IV, mainly due to an increase in inpatient stays. Mean time (standard deviation, SD) from any cardiac related diagnosis prior to ATTR-CM diagnosis was 3.5 (3.1) years.
Conclusions: Advanced ATTR-CM stages are associated with significant healthcare costs, as patients more often require resource-intensive inpatient care. The current diagnostic trajectory of ATTR-CM in this study was characterized by a diagnostic delay of several years.
Keywords: ATTR-CM; NYHA; costs; diagnosis; health care resources.
This study shows that both healthcare resource use and healthcare costs increased considerably with a higher degree of ATTR-CM severity.The diagnostic trajectory of ATTR-CM in this study was characterized by a diagnostic delay of several years.Greater disease awareness and a lower threshold for screening risk groups for TTR-amyloidosis is prompted to establish an earlier diagnosis.