Acute pulmonary embolism is a relatively common and serious medical condition, and there is some uncertainty around the optimal treatment choice. There are tradeoffs among ventricular function improvements, bleeding side effects, and cost outcomes. CHDS researchers used simulation modeling methods to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) combined with anticoagulation treatment compared to anticoagulation treatment alone.
Results showed that CDT-directed treatment represented “intermediate value” per the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association thresholds, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $120,000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained. The modeling also suggested substantial economic value in future research that could effectively remove the uncertainty around this and other CDT-directed treatment effectiveness, costs, and side effect estimates.
The study was led by Stefanie Mason at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, with CHDS faculty member Ankur Pandya and CHDS doctoral student Jinyi Zhu as co-authors.
Learn more: Read the article in Journal of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis.
Learn more: Read the ACC/AHA Statement on Cost/Value Methodology in Clinical Practice Guidelines and Performance Measures
Learn more: Modeling research at CHDS
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