OBJECTIVES: To estimate the budget impact of incorporating global longitudinal strain (GLS) for the early detection of cardiotoxicity in patients under cancer treatment, compared to conventional echocardiographic measurements (ECO) in the Brazilian Private Healthcare System (PHS).

METHODS: The BI was calculated based on a Markov constructed with the following health states: no changes, cardiotoxicity, heart failure, reversibility and death, with annual cycles. Eligible population was estimated through an epidemiological approach, based on the prevalence of cancer, proportion of cancer patients treated with anthracyclines and proportion of patients covered by health plans. The time horizon was 5 years, with perspective of the PHS. One scenario was built considering only the cost of GLS and ECO, whereas the other scenario included direct medical costs related to the management of cardiotoxicity and heart failure. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to explore uncertainties.

RESULTS: The initial eligible population was estimated in 209,657 patients. The scenario considering only GLS and ECO procedures costs resulted in a positive BI, from BRL3.6 million in the first year to R$ 59 million in the fifth year. Considering total costs, the incorporation of GLS has the potential to result in savings to PHS from the fourth year of incorporation. In the fifth year the economy reaches about R$ 9 million. Deterministic results are corroborated by the probabilistic analyses.

CONCLUSIONS: Cardiotoxicity has a major impact in cancer patients treated with anthracyclines, being associated with increased risk of heart failure and mortality. Since GLS has the potential of early detection of cardiotoxicity, allowing the rapid onset of treatment, the use of GLS has the potential to promote savings for the private healthcare system.