Cost-effectiveness of endarterectomy in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND

Long-term health outcomes and costs are important when deciding whether a strategy of carotid endarterectomy in addition to best medical management should be recommended for patients with asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis. This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of such a strategy compared with a strategy of best medical management alone.

METHODS

Based on data from the randomized Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial (ACST), a national vascular database and other published sources, expected costs and health outcomes in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of both treatment strategies were estimated using decision-analytical modelling. Cost-effectiveness was established for a Swedish setting from a societal perspective.

RESULTS

Base-case analysis showed that the incremental cost per QALY of a strategy with carotid endarterectomy for 65- and 75-year-old men (women) was 34,557 euros (311,133 euros) and 58,930 euros (779,776 euros) respectively. Sensitivity analyses indicated that the duration of the treatment effect after 5 years of follow-up in the ACST was important for the cost-effectiveness results.

CONCLUSION

Carotid endarterectomy in addition to best medical management can be considered cost-effective in men aged 73 years or less but is less likely to be cost-effective in older men or in women.