Real-life costs and effects of an implementation program to increase thrombolysis in stroke

Objectives: We have shown that a Breakthrough Series–based implementation program increases the number of patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with alteplase 4.5% in real-life settings. It is unclear whether such an implementation program is cost-effective. Methods: The practice study includes 12 randomized hospitals and 5,515 patients. Its present cost-effectiveness analysis involves 1,657 patients with ischemic stroke admitted within 4 hours from onset. Defined primary outcomes are thrombolysis rate and actual health care costs up to 3 months, including additional implementation efforts. Secondary outcomes are lifetime qualityadjusted years (QALYs) and lifetime costs of individual trial patients, using a validated probabilistic, disability-stratified stroke life table. Differences in outcome include95%confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for intracluster correlation. Results: The thrombolysis rate in the intervention group was 44.3% vs 39.8% in the control group (difference 4.5%; 95% CI 3.1% to 5.9%. Mean costs per patient at 3 months (euros were converted to 2010 USD) were $9,192 USD in the intervention group and $9,647 USD in the control group (difference !$455 USD; 95% CI !$232 to !$679 USD). Lifetime QALYs in the intervention group were 3.89 and in the control group 3.84 (difference 0.05; 95% CI !0.04 to 0.14). The mean lifetime costs in the intervention group were $22,994 USD against $24,315 USD in the control group (difference !$1,321 USD; 95% CI !$1,722 to !$921 USD). Conclusions: A Breakthrough Series implementation program of thrombolysis increases thrombolysis. It saves short- and long-term health care costs due to lower hospital admission and residential costs, increasing stroke care efficiency.