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Ventricular Assist Devices in Advanced-Stage Heart Failure pp 61–71Cite as

The Economics of Long-Term Ventricular Assist Device Therapy for Patients with End-Stage Heart Failure

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Abstract

The cost of medical and surgical treatment of advanced heart failure is significant, with surgical therapy having a higher initial cost. Medical therapy alone is expensive with nearly 50 % of expenditures in the last 6 months of life. However, surgical treatments such as heart transplantation and use of ventricular assist devices (VAD) are associated with significantly better average quality of life and functional capacity. Overall two-thirds of the estimated 50 billion dollars Medicare spends annually for the care of heart failure patients is for inpatient care. Less than 0.2 % of that total was due to cost of VADs for destination therapy (DT), mechanical circulatory support for life.

All treatment options for heart failure patients come at a significant cost. As mechanical support widens its utilization, it is important to further study and weigh the cost benefit in terms of survival, functional capacity, and quality of life improvement, as well as its relative cost compared to other heart failure treatments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Thoratec Corporation, 6101 Stoneridge Drive, Pleasanton, CA, 94588, USA

    Robin R. Bostic

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  1. Robin R. Bostic
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Correspondence to Robin R. Bostic .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of The Therapeutic Strategy for Heart Failure, The University of Tokyo Hospital, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Shunei Kyo

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Bostic, R.R. (2014). The Economics of Long-Term Ventricular Assist Device Therapy for Patients with End-Stage Heart Failure. In: Kyo, S. (eds) Ventricular Assist Devices in Advanced-Stage Heart Failure. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54466-1_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54466-1_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-54465-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-54466-1

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