Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of case management in advanced heart failure patients attended in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Checa, Caterina; Canelo Aybar, Carlos; Suclupe, Stefanie; Ginesta-López, David; Berenguera, Anna; Castells, Xavier; Brotons, Carlos; Posso, Margarita

doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113823

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of case management in advanced heart failure patients attended in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis

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Checa C, Canelo-Aybar C, Suclupe S, Ginesta-López D, Berenguera A, Castells X, Brotons C, Posso M. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of case management in advanced heart failure patients attended in primary care: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Oct 24;19(21):13823. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192113823

Abstract

Aims: Nurse-led case management (CM) may improve quality of life (QoL) for advanced heart failure (HF) patients. No systematic review (SR), however, has summarized its effectiveness/cost-effectiveness. We aimed to evaluate the effect of such programs in primary care settings in advanced HF patients. We examined and summarized evidence on QoL, mortality, hospitalization, self-care, and cost-effectiveness. Methods and results: The MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Clinical Trials, WHO, Registry of International Clinical Trials, and Central Cochrane were searched up to March 2022. The Consensus Health Economic Criteria instrument to assess risk-of-bias in economic evaluations, Cochrane risk-of-bias 2 for clinical trials, and an adaptation of Robins-I for quasi-experimental and cohort studies were employed. Results from nurse-led CM programs did not reduce mortality (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.15; participants = 1345; studies = 6; I2 = 47%). They decreased HF hospitalizations (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.91; participants = 1989; studies = 8; I2 = 0%) and all-cause ones (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.89; participants = 1012; studies = 5; I2 = 36%). QoL improved in medium-term follow-up (SMD 0.18, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.32; participants = 1228; studies = 8; I2 = 28%), and self-care was not statistically significant improved (SMD 0.66, 95% CI -0.84 to 2.17; participants = 450; studies = 3; I2 = 97%). A wide variety of costs ranging from USD 4975 to EUR 27,538 was observed. The intervention was cost-effective at ≤EUR 60,000/QALY. Conclusions: Nurse-led CM reduces all-cause hospital admissions and HF hospitalizations but not all-cause mortality. QoL improved at medium-term follow-up. Such programs could be cost-effective in high-income countries.