Cost-utility Analysis of Learning and Coping Versus Standard Education in Cardiac Rehabilitation: a Randomised Controlled Trial with 3 Years of Follow-up

Overview

Journal Open Heart

Publisher BMJ Publishing Group

Specialty Cardiology & Vascular Diseases

Date 2020 Feb 21

PMID 32076564

Authors

Nasrin Tayyari Dehbarez

Camilla Palmhoj Nielsen

Bettine Wulff Risor

Claus Vinther Nielsen

Vibeke Lynggaard

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: To enhance adherence to cardiac rehabilitation (CR), a patient education programme called 'learning and coping' (LC-programme) was implemented in three hospitals in Denmark. The aim of this study was to investigate the cost-utility of the LC-programme compared with the standard CR-programme.

Methods: 825 patients with ischaemic heart disease or heart failure were randomised to the LC-programme or the standard CR-programme and were followed for 3 years.A societal cost perspective was applied and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) were based on SF-6D measurements. Multiple imputation technique was used to handle missing data on the SF-6D. The statistical analyses were based on means and bootstrapped SEs. Regression framework was employed to estimate the net benefit and to illustrate cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

Results: No statistically significant differences were found between the two programmes in total societal costs (4353 Euros; 95% CI -3828 to 12 533) or in QALY (-0.006; 95% CI -0.053 to 0.042). At a threshold of 40 000 Euros, the LC-programme was found to be cost-effective at 15% probability; however, for patients with heart failure, due to increased cost savings, the probability of cost-effectiveness increased to 91%.

Conclusions: While the LC-programme did not appear to be cost-effective in CR, important heterogeneity was noted for subgroups of patients. The LC-programme was demonstrated to increase adherence to the rehabilitation programme and to be cost-effective among patients with heart failure. However, further research is needed to study the dynamic value of heterogeneity due to the small sample size in this subgroup.

Citing Articles

Cost-effectiveness of metacognitive therapy for cardiac rehabilitation participants with symptoms of anxiety and/or depression: analysis of a randomised controlled trial.

Shields G, Camacho E, Davies L, Doherty P, Reeves D, Capobianco L BMJ Open. 2025; 14(12):e087414.

PMID: 39806675 PMC: 11667381. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-087414.

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