Medtronic touts reduced costs, rehospitalizations in cryoballoon vs RF AF ablation trial analysis

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) today released data from a health economic analysis from the Fire And Ice trial comparing its Arctic Front cryoballoon catheter to its ThermoCool radiofrequency ablation cath, touting that cryoballoon treatment could reduce costs and rehospitalizations when used to treat paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Economic analysis results from the trial were published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Researchers analyzed data from the 769-patient trial, which Medtronic claims is the largest to compare cryoballoon ablation to point-by-point RF ablation for treating paroxysmal AF, originally presented last year, exploring cost differences between patients treated with either RF or cryoballoon.

Results indicated cost savings of approximately $925 per patient, or $355,000 total savings, for patients treated with the cryoballoon therapy in the US.

Trial researchers analyzed cost savings across other healthcare systems, showing savings of $480 (GBP £364) per patient, or $184,926 (GBP £140,000) total under the UK’s healthcare system, and savings of $755 (EU €640) per patient, or $289,026 (EU €245,000) under Germany’s healthcare system.

Cost savings were driven by fewer repeat ablations and cardiovascular rehospitalizations for patients treated with the cryoballoon, Fridley, Minn.-based Medtronic said.

“This analysis illustrates the Medtronic cryoballoon’s sustained economic impact across multiple healthcare systems – improving patient outcomes with reduced healthcare utilization and lowering healthcare system costs,” AF solutions biz GM Colleen Fowler said in a prepared statement.

“These findings show that patients treated with the cryoballoon have positive clinical outcomes such as fewer rehospitalizations and ablations, leading to decreased burden on health systems and lower costs. The latest analysis further validates cryoablation as an effective treatment option for AF patients with real economic value across health systems,” trial principal investigator Dr. Karl-Heinz Kuck of Hamburg, Germany’s Asklepios Klinik St. Georg said in a press release.

Yesterday, Medtronic said it won CE Mark approval in the European Union for its CoreValve Evolut Pro transcatheter aortic heart valve, indicated for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis for symptomatic patients at intermediate, high or extreme risk for open heart

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