Author/Authors :
Ravangard, Ramin Health Human Resources Research Center - School of Management and Medical Information Sciences - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran , Jafari, Abdosaleh Health Management and Economics Research Center - Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran , Rahgoshai, Iman Health Human Resources Research Center - School of Management and Medical Information Sciences - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran , Zamirian, Mahmoud Cardiovascular Research Center - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran , Aghasadeghi, Kamran Cardiovascular Research Center - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran , Moarref, Alireza Cardiovascular Research Center - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran , Yadollahikhales, Golnaz Department of Neurology -Texas Tech University, El Paso, USA , Cruz-Flores, Salvador Cardiovascular Research Center - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran , Neydavoodi, Mojtaba Clinical Neurology Research Center - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran , Borhani-Haghighi, Afshin Department of Neurology - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran
Abstract :
Background: Both Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE) and Transesophgeal Echocardiography (TEE) are effective investigation tools to detect cardioaortic sources of embolism in ischemic stroke. Nevertheless، there are still uncertainties about the cost-effectiveness of these methods in non-selected patients with acute stroke.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of TTE and TEE using a decision analytic model in non-selected patients with acute ischemic stroke with or without clinical and radiological signs of embolic pattern.
Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional cost-effectiveness study was performed in Nemazee hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from January 2014 to April 2014. TTE and TEE were performed for all 65 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke (51.3% male، mean age of 69.7 ± 17.9 years). The required data were direct costs related to performance of TTE and TEE، which were obtained from the patients’ bills in their charts. A decision analytic model was implemented to assess the cost-effectiveness of these two methods، which demonstrated an Incremental Cost-Ef-fectiveness Ratio (ICER). Effectiveness was determined based on the number of disorders diagnosed using each of the two echoes confirmed by two cardiologists. All analyses were done using Tree Age Pro 2011.
Results: The results showed that TEE was more expensive than TTE in non-selected patients. Performing TEE increased the cost by 1494 USD and the effectiveness by 7%. As per ICER equation، for each increment unit in the effectiveness، performing TEE would increase the cost by 213.4 USD compared to TTE. TEE was cost-effective in comparison to TTE regardless of age factor considering the cutoff of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by three for ICER. Moreover، TTE was cost-effective in 41-60- and 61-80-year-old age groups، while TEE was cost-effective in the 41-60-year-old age group. However، none of the techniques was cost-effective in patients above 81 years old.
Conclusions: The results of this study can help reduce the unnecessary use of echocardiography by considering the age group and their corresponding risk factors for developing ischemic stroke.
Keywords :
Stroke , Ischemic , Embolic , Cost , Benefit Analysis , Echocardiography
