What does this research mean for the field?

Adding ivabradine to standard pharmacotherapy is likely to be a cost-effective strategy for treating eligible heart failure patients from a Vietnamese health system perspective. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The central aim is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adding ivabradine to standard pharmacotherapy for heart failure in Vietnam.

March 16, 2026Open Access

Cost-effectiveness of Add-On Ivabradine Versus Standard Pharmacotherapy in the Treatment of Heart Failure in Vietnam: An Analysis From a Health System Perspective

Key Result

Adding ivabradine to standard pharmacotherapy is likely to be cost-effective for treating heart failure in Vietnam.

Key Points

The central aim is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adding ivabradine to standard pharmacotherapy for heart failure in Vietnam.
Analyzed treatment strategies from a health system perspective
Compared costs and health outcomes of ivabradine and standard pharmacotherapy
Evaluated implications for price negotiations and resource allocation
Ivabradine addition is likely to be cost-effective for heart failure treatment
Supports value-based pricing strategies in the Vietnamese health system
Indicates efficient use of healthcare resources for managing costs

Structured PICO

Does adding ivabradine to standard pharmacotherapy improve cost-effectiveness in Vietnamese patients with heart failure (LVEF ≤35%, HR ≥70 bpm)?

Population

Simulated cohort of 1,000 Vietnamese patients with heart failure, NYHA class II-IV, LVEF ≤35%, and resting heart rate ≥70 bpm, start age 60, 76% male.

Intervention

Ivabradine (doses assumed similar to SHIFT trial: 7.5 mg, 5 mg, 2.5 mg) added to standard pharmacotherapy (RAAS inhibitors, beta-blockers, MRAs, SGLT2 inhibitors) over a lifetime horizon.

Comparator

Standard pharmacotherapy alone (RAAS inhibitors, beta-blockers, MRAs, SGLT2 inhibitors based on Vietnamese guidelines and local prescription rates).

Outcome

Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) measured in cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained over a lifetime horizon.

Adding ivabradine to standard pharmacotherapy is a cost-effective strategy for eligible heart failure patients in Vietnam, supporting value-based pricing and resource allocation.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

From a Vietnamese health system perspective, adding ivabradine to standard pharmacotherapy is likely to be a cost-effective strategy for treating eligible patients with HF. This evidence supports value-based pricing in price negotiations and efficient resource use.

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