Objectives: to address cerebrovascular disease management costs in Argentina, linked to treatment of acute ischemic stroke, considering thrombolysis treatment with rtPA and immediate post-treatment rehabilitation.

Methods: This budget impact analysis considers two treatment scenarios: rtPA and Best Supportive Care. An Argentine healthcare payer perspective was assumed, only the direct health costs associated with the management of acute ischemic stroke and the rehabilitation stage were included. A 1-year horizon was considered.

Results:

The total expenditure for the management of acute ischemic stroke in the population covered for the stage amounts to USD 153,043,200 (it is assumed that 11% of the elegible population is currently receiving thrombolysis rtPA treatment), while the expenditure for scenario 1 (increasing to 22% of the elegible population which receives thrombolysis rtPA treatment) is USD 150,770,441 and in scenario 2 (increasing to 33% of the elegible population which receives thrombolysis rtPA treatment) is USD 148,596,498. The savings generated under the first scenario is USD -2,272,759 while in scenario 2 it reaches USD -4,446,702.

Conclusions:

The use of thrombolysis with rtPA in the management of ischemic stroke reduces the direct economic impact from the care of the pathology, especially by the reduction of costs associated with physical rehabilitation.