Cost-effectiveness analysis of empagliflozin in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in Japan based on the EMPEROR-Reduced trial

• Published in: Journal of cardiology 2023-06, Vol.81 (6), p.522-530
• Main Authors: Tsutsui, Hiroyuki, Sakamaki, Hiroyuki, Momomura, Shin-ichi, Sakata, Yasushi, Kotobuki, Yutaro, Linden, Stephan, Reifsnider, Odette S., Rakonczai, Pal, Stargardter, Matthew, Murata, Tatsunori, Hirase, Tetsuaki, Nitta, Daisuke
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Benzhydryl Compounds; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cost-Effectiveness Analysis; Empagliflozin; EMPEROR-reduced; Heart Failure - drug therapy; Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; Humans; Japan; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors; Stroke Volume
• ISSN: 0914-5087; 1876-4738
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jjcc.2023.02.007

Several studies have reported the cost-effectiveness of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors in heart failure patients; however, their economic implications have not been sufficiently elucidated in Japan. A Markov cohort model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of empagliflozin plus standard of care (SoC) vs. SoC for patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in Japan. Model inputs, including risk of clinical events, costs, and utilities based on Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Scores were derived from EMPEROR-Reduced trial data, published literature, and a claims database. The model predicted lower lifetime hospitalizations for heart failure (HHFs) and additional quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs; 0.21) for empagliflozin plus SoC vs. SoC in the overall population. Increased costs of ¥100,495/patient ($772/patient), primarily driven by higher drug costs of ¥239,558/patient ($1,840/patient), were largely offset by reduced HHF management costs of −¥166,160/patient (−$1,276/patient), yielding an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of ¥469,672/QALY ($3,608/QALY). Results were consistent among subgroups and sensitivity analyses. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, 82.5 % of runs were below the Japanese ICER reference value of ¥5,000,000/QALY ($38,408/QALY). Empagliflozin was demonstrated to be cost-effective for HFrEF patients in Japan based on the EMPEROR-Reduced trial data. [Display omitted] •Heart failure (HF) is associated with hospitalization and cardiovascular death.•Empagliflozin significantly reduced HF hospitalizations in EMPEROR-Reduced trial.•A health economic model was used to predict long-term treatment effects and costs.•Empagliflozin + Standard of Care (SoC) was cost-effective compared to SoC alone.