Cost savings with a novel algorithm for early detection of systemic sclerosis-related pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Abstract

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is an important cause of death and disability in Scleroderma (SSc) patients. Yearly screening of all SSc patients with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is recommended in international guidelines and currently utilised by the Australian Scleroderma Interest Group (ASIGSTANDARD). Due to the limitations of TTE, the Australian Scleroderma Interest Group (ASIG) developed a new screening algorithm (ASIGPROPOSED) utilizing a serum biomarker, NT-proBNP, in place of TTE, which has been shown to be equally accurate as the current algorithm. The aim of this study was to compare the cost of these two algorithms. The new algorithm resulted in significant yearly cost savings of between AUD$42,913.35 and AUD$84,570 in screening and diagnosis of the ASCS cohort which, if extrapolated to the Australian population, would result in a yearly cost saving of between AUD$367,066 and AUD$725,564. There was no scenario in which the proposed algorithm did not result in a cost saving.