Objective: The costs of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stent placement for iliac artery occlusive disease in the United States were assessed and the cost-effectiveness was evaluated.
Materials and methods: Lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life expectancy were estimated using a Markov decision model for a hypothetic cohort of patients with life-style-limiting claudication caused by an iliac artery stenosis for whom a percutaneous intervention was indicated. Various percutaneous treatment strategies were evaluated, each consisting of an initial intervention followed by a secondary intervention. Procedures considered were angioplasty alone and angioplasty with selective stent placement.
Results: From the perspective of the interventional radiology department, angioplasty with selective stent placement costs more than angioplasty alone ($2926 versus $2106). Taking into account follow-up costs and procedures for long-term failures, the cost differential was reduced because of a lower failure rate of selective stent placement ($13,158 versus $12,458, respectively). Treatment strategies using angioplasty with selective stent placement (as an initial procedure or including reintervention) dominated treatment strategies using angioplasty alone (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $7,624-8,519 per quality-adjusted life-year gained).
Conclusion: Angioplasty with selective stent placement is a cost-effective treatment strategy compared with angioplasty alone in the treatment of intermittent claudication in the United States.