General economic considerations

• Potential cost savings
  • These are likely to occur if a treatment improves QoL and slows disease progression
  • The magnitude of direct costs (and hence potential savings) will depend on:
  • the morbidity burden relating to the condition,
  • the specific costs related to this morbidity (for example, GP visits are relative cheap and hospitalisation is relatively expensive),
  • the efficacy of treatment in relation to morbidity (for example, how big the impact
    on hospitalisation).
  • The slowing of the progression of CHF from mild (NYHA I and II) to more severe states (NYHA III and IV) will reduce all forms of healthcare utilisation including hospitalisation.
• Potential additional costs
  • Direct costs of the treatment itself (drugs and related, eg monitoring, treating adverse effects).
  • If the treatment extends life, survivors will continue to utilise healthcare resources.