The impact of general usage of stents on short- and long-term health care costs following percutaneous coronary intervention

Background: The general usage of stents during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces the need for subsequent repeated revascularizations when compared with balloon dilatation. The aim was to evaluate the impact of stenting on short- and long-term in-hospital care costs after PCI. Method and Results: Patients who underwent PCI from July 1992 to June 1993 (group A, n = 166; 4.2% stents) and from July 1996 to June 1997 (group B, n = 233; 61.4% stents) were included. The clinical outcome and all in-hospital care costs during 2.5 years following the procedures were analyzed. During the study period the number of deaths and acute myocardial infarctions was similar in the groups, but repeated revascularization occurred more often in group A than in group B (53.6 vs. 39.5%; p = 0.007). The initial procedural cost per patient was higher in group B than in group A (EUR 7,653 ± 5,071 vs. EUR 6,048 ± 3,242; p = 0.002), but after 2.5 years the costs were similar in the 2 groups (not significant). Conclusion: General usage of stents increases immediate health care cost compared with balloon dilatation, but despite reduction in subsequent revascularization, there is no reduction in long-term in-hospital costs.