Cost-effectiveness analysis of an implantable cardiac defibrillator compared with pharmaceutical therapy in patients hospitalized with arrhythmia in Iran
Economic evaluation compares implantable cardiac defibrillator cost-effectiveness with pharmaceutical therapy in arrhythmia patients in Iran.
Key Points
The ICD strategy costs $41,135 with 12.63 QALYs, while pharmaceutical therapy costs $8,592 yielding 11.29 QALYs.
The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for ICD compared to pharmaceutical therapy is $24,286 per QALY, indicating it is not cost-effective.
Probabilistic sensitivity analysis shows a 40% chance of cost-effectiveness for ICD at a willingness-to-pay threshold of three times GDP per capita in Iran.
Resource allocation and cost-cutting measures may be necessary as the ICD approach is not economical for treating arrhythmia patients.