Health Economic Evaluation of Remote Follow up for Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Patients

TARIFF Health Economics Evaluation Registry for Remote Follow up

The purpose of the study is to define the economic value of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) remote monitoring for hospitals, third payers and patients in Italy. Aims of the study are to develop a hospital cost minimization analysis and a cost effectiveness analysis based on direct estimation of costs and quality of life deriving from remote follow-up (performed with Merlin@home and Merlin.net) compared to standard follow-up in the management of ICD implanted patients.

TARIFF is a prospective observational study aimed to measure direct, indirect costs and quality of life of all participants for the duration of the observational timeframe. Purpose of cost collecting is to include a complete set of medical services and productivity loses that could be directly affected by the different clinical Follow-Up (FU) pathway. The study consists of 2 phases: firstly standard follow up costs will be collected for 100 pts, then all costs associated to remote follow ups will be collected for other 100 patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients already implanted with ICD
• Patients able to be followed in the same centre during all the study
• Patients with age > 18
• Patients able to understand and to answer to EuroQoL Group 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) Questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients pregnant
• Patients unable to connect Merlin@home transmitters with Website Merlin.net (i.e.without telephonic analogic line or Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)/Universal Mode Telecommunication System (UMTS) connection)