The Cost of Waiting for a Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Medicare Beneficiaries With Severe Aortic Stenosis

Background

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a prevalent valvular disorder necessitating timely intervention, particularly when symptomatic. Aortic valve replacement (AVR) is the recommended treatment, but delays in access to AVR are common and linked to adverse outcomes and increased health care costs. This study aims to assess the health care cost burden associated with delaying transcatheter AVR (TAVR) in Medicare Advantage beneficiaries with clinically significant AS.

Methods and Results

This retrospective database study utilized the Optum de-identified U.S. claims database, encompassing Medicare Advantage enrollees. Patients aged 65 years or older were identified as having AS based on medical billing codes and were required to have a record of syncope, dyspnea, fatigue, chest pain/angina, or heart failure prior to, on or within 30 days of their incident AS diagnosis. Total health care costs were analyzed over a 2-year period, regressed against the delay in receiving TAVR, and adjusted for covariates. In the 4105 patients meeting study inclusion criteria, delays in TAVR were associated with a significant increase in health care costs, translating to those waiting 12 months for TAVR incurring an additional cost of $10,080 compared to those receiving TAVR promptly. Non-TAVR related costs largely drove this increase.

Conclusions

Delaying TAVR in clinically significant AS patients is associated with higher health care costs, emphasizing the need for timely interventions. Addressing delays in TAVR access and optimizing pre-TAVR workup can potentially improve patient outcomes and reduce health care expenditure.