Cited 2 times since 2022 (1 per year) source: EuropePMC Journal of medical Internet research, Volume 24, Issue 4, 25 4 2022, Pages e30236 The Box-eHealth in the Outpatient Clinic Follow-up of Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Cost-Utility Analysis. Treskes RW, van den Akker-van Marle ME, van Winden L, van Keulen N, van der Velde ET, Beeres S, Atsma D, Schalij MJ
Background
Smartphone compatible wearables have been released on the consumers market, enabling remote monitoring. Remote monitoring is often named as a tool to reduce the cost of care.
Objective
The primary purpose of this paper is to describe a cost-utility analysis of an eHealth intervention compared to regular follow-up in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).
Methods
In this trial, of which clinical results have been published previously, patients with an AMI were randomized in a 1:1 fashion between an eHealth intervention and regular follow-up. The remote monitoring intervention consisted of a blood pressure monitor, weight scale, electrocardiogram device, and step counter. Furthermore, two in-office outpatient clinic visits were replaced by e-visits. The control group received regular care. The differences in mean costs and quality of life per patient between both groups during one-year follow-up were calculated.
Results
Mean costs per patient were €2417±2043 (US $2657±2246) for the intervention and €2888±2961 (US $3175±3255) for the control group. This yielded a cost reduction of €471 (US $518) per patient. This difference was not statistically significant (95% CI -€275 to €1217; P=.22, US $-302 to $1338). The average quality-adjusted life years in the first year of follow-up was 0.74 for the intervention group and 0.69 for the control (difference -0.05, 95% CI -0.09 to -0.01; P=.01).
Conclusions
eHealth in the outpatient clinic setting for patients who suffered from AMI is likely to be cost-effective compared to regular follow-up. Further research should be done to corroborate these findings in other patient populations and different care settings.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02976376; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02976376.
International registered report identifier (irrid)
RR2-10.2196/resprot.8038.
