OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the financial impact of incorporating cryo-balloon cryoablation (CB-2) as an alternative for patients with long-term persistent or persistent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, from the private health system perspective in Brazil.

METHODS: Population was based on the projection of private health insurance beneficiaries eligible to receive ablation procedures for the treatment of arrhythmias, between 2020 and 2024. It was defined considering the number of private health plans beneficiaries for the period (estimated by applying the expected year growth in healthcare coverage to the total of private health plans beneficiaries reported in December 2018) and the prevalence of the procedure (0.02% of the population per year). Two scenarios were modelled: 1) reference scenario: all patients treated with the currently available radiofrequency ablation (RF); and 2) projected scenario: access to CB-2 with a market share growth of 5% per year. The analysis considered the direct medical cost of performing the ablation procedure, taken from 2018 private insurance pricing charts (CBHPM) and presented in 2019 BRL and USD.

RESULTS: It was estimated that a total of 48,477 patients would be treated in the reference scenario in five years. In the projected scenario, 7,305 patients would be treated with CB-2. Total costs with and without CB-2 were estimated to be BRL 436,785,568 (USD 109,196,392) and BRL 441,395,056 (USD 110,348,764) respectively with an incremental cost of – BRL 4,609,487 (- USD 1,152,371).

CONCLUSIONS:The results suggest a potential saving of USD 1.1 million over 5 years. In the first year alone, the incorporation of CB-2 could offer savings of up to USD 75,000. As such, CB-2 should be considered in the private healthcare system in Brazil.