A Systematic Literature Review of Cost of Illness Studies on Atrial Fibrillation With Focus on the Methodologies Economic Burden and Factors Influencing the Cost of Atrial Fibrillation Among European and North American Countries
Author(s)
Chidi A. Dimkpa, M.D., MSc.1, Leela Barham, BSc (Hons), MSc2, Uchechukwu C. Dimkpa, M.D., MBA3.
1Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Euregio Clinic, Nordhorn, Germany, 2Learna/University of South Wales, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom, 3BioNTech SE, Mainz, Germany.
1Internal Medicine/Cardiology, Euregio Clinic, Nordhorn, Germany, 2Learna/University of South Wales, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom, 3BioNTech SE, Mainz, Germany.
OBJECTIVES: To identify, appraise, and synthesize evidence on the prevalence, economic burden and cost of atrial fibrillation in Europe and North America from 2009 to 2022 with a focus on the methodologies and cost patterns, and elucidate factors that may influence the variation of costs in these two regions.
METHODS: A systematic search was carried out for published literature within the past 12 years reporting the costs of Atrial Fibrillation in Europe and North America. Data analysis was carried out by analyzing the methodologies employed, examining each specific cost component, and evaluating the variations among studies by geography.
RESULTS: Nine publications met the criteria to be reviewed in this study, 7 from Europe and 2 from North America. The impact of Atrial Fibrillation based on the total Healthcare Expenditure of the various countries in Europe ranged from 0.38% in Germany to 2.99% in Sweden (mean 1.63% in Europe), as opposed to 0.42% in Canada and 0.56% in the USA (mean 0.49% in North America). This correlated with the prevalence. Marked variations in methodology, cost components, and reporting strategies impeded further comparison of all significant cost components across the board.
CONCLUSIONS: The Cost Impact of Atrial Fibrillation appears higher in Europe than in North America, with hospitalization as the cost driver. There is a directly proportional relationship between this cost impact and the prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation in these continents. The wide variation found in the studies reviewed can be reduced by the creation of an international guideline for conducting Cost of Illness Studies to increase uniformity and comparability among studies.
METHODS: A systematic search was carried out for published literature within the past 12 years reporting the costs of Atrial Fibrillation in Europe and North America. Data analysis was carried out by analyzing the methodologies employed, examining each specific cost component, and evaluating the variations among studies by geography.
RESULTS: Nine publications met the criteria to be reviewed in this study, 7 from Europe and 2 from North America. The impact of Atrial Fibrillation based on the total Healthcare Expenditure of the various countries in Europe ranged from 0.38% in Germany to 2.99% in Sweden (mean 1.63% in Europe), as opposed to 0.42% in Canada and 0.56% in the USA (mean 0.49% in North America). This correlated with the prevalence. Marked variations in methodology, cost components, and reporting strategies impeded further comparison of all significant cost components across the board.
CONCLUSIONS: The Cost Impact of Atrial Fibrillation appears higher in Europe than in North America, with hospitalization as the cost driver. There is a directly proportional relationship between this cost impact and the prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation in these continents. The wide variation found in the studies reviewed can be reduced by the creation of an international guideline for conducting Cost of Illness Studies to increase uniformity and comparability among studies.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-11, ISPOR Europe 2025, Glasgow, Scotland
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S2
Code
EE32
Topic
Economic Evaluation, Epidemiology & Public Health, Study Approaches
Topic Subcategory
Cost/Cost of Illness/Resource Use Studies
Disease
Cardiovascular Disorders (including MI, Stroke, Circulatory), No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas