Complications and associated healthcare costs of transvenous cardiac pacemakers in Germany

Abstract

Aim: This study evaluated the occurrence and associated costs of pacemaker complications in Germany from 2010 to 2013. Patients & methods: Patients with a de novo or replacement implantation of a single or dual chamber pacemaker between 2010 and 2013 were followed for 12 months post-implant using German health insurance claims data. A case–control analysis was performed using propensity score matching to estimate the costs of complications. Results: Out of 12,922 implanted patients, 12.0% had a complication in the year following the implant. Complications related to lead and pocket were found in 10.2% of all implanted patients; infections occurred in 1.7% patients. Healthcare costs up to 36 months post complication were on average €4627 higher than for pacemaker patients without a complication. Conclusion: Pacemaker complications are common and represent a burden for patients and healthcare systems generating substantial costs. Most of the pacemaker complications involved the pacing lead or pacemaker pocket.

Atrioventricular node ablation and pacing for atrial tachyarrhythmias: A meta-analysis of postoperative outcomes

“…Complications arising after AVNA and pace represent a significant burden for the patient's quality of life and the healthcare system, generating substantial additional costs. Although, to the best of our knowledge, no study has explicitly focused on the long-term economic impact of AVNA and pace, two recent European studies have investigated the complications and associated healthcare costs after transvenous permanent pacemaker implantation in France [10] and Germany [11]. They have prospected an average additional cost at three years of around €6600 and €4600 respectively to manage the cardiac electronic devices.…”

“…Leave-one-out analysis of outcomes to test for heterogeneity did not show significant change of the results (Supplementary Figs. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”

Prevention of cardiac implantable electronic device infections: guidelines and conventional prophylaxis

“…Given this background and the knowledge that device complications are common and device infections require complete system removal 23 both generating substantial healthcare costs, 24 novel strategies for the prevention of CIED infection are urgently needed. This section gives an overview of recommended strategies for preventing CIED infections in line with recent EHRA international consensus document on how to prevent, diagnose, and treat CIED infections.…”

Effectiveness of Saireito, a Traditional Japanese Kampo Herbal Medication, on Pacemaker-Related Pleural Effusion: A Case Report

“…Pacemaker implantation is a standard and safe therapeutic strategy for patients of all ages with bradyarrhythmia. Various complications associated with pacemaker implantation are common, but late-onset pacemaker-related pleural effusion is rarely reported [ 1 ]. Recently, Xiong et al reported 6 consecutive elderly patients with pleural effusion who had undergone a new pacemaker implantation and evaluated the clinical characteristics and therapeutic courses of pleural effusion [ 2 ].…”