Patient Clusters and Cost Trajectories in Atrial Fibrillation: Evidence from the Swiss Atrial Fibrillation Cohort

AimsEvidence on long-term costs of atrial fibrillation (AF) and associated factors is scarce. As part of the Swiss-AF prospective cohort study we aimed to characterise AF costs and their development over time, and to assess specific patient clusters and their cost trajectories. MethodsSwiss-AF enrolled 2,415 patients with variable duration of AF between 2014 and 2017. Patient clusters were identified using hierarchical cluster analysis of baseline characteristics. Ongoing yearly follow-ups include health insurance clinical and claims data. An algorithm was developed to adjudicate costs to AF and related complications. ResultsHierarchical analysis identified three patient clusters. "Cardiovascular-dominated" (CV-dominated) patients had the highest proportions of prior myocardial infarction and presence of diabetes. "Heart failure-dominated" (HF-dominated) patients had the highest occurrence of heart failure and permanent AF. "Isolated symptomatic" (IS) patients were younger and had the highest occurrence of paroxysmal AF. A subpopulation of 1,024 Swiss-AF patients with available claims data was followed up for a median [interquartile range] of 3.24 [1.09] years. Average yearly AF-adjudicated costs amounted to CHF 5,679, remaining stable across the observation period. CV-dominated (N = 253 with claims data) and HF-dominated patients (N = 185) depicted similarly high costs across all cost outcomes, the IS (N = 586) patients accrued the lowest costs. ConclusionOur results highlight three well-differentiated patient clusters with specific costs that could be used for stratification in both clinical and economic studies. Patient characteristics associated with adjudicated costs as well as cost trajectories may enable an early understanding of the magnitude of upcoming AF-related healthcare costs. What is already known on this topicAtrial fibrillation (AF) is a complex disease and constitutes a major economic and societal challenge due to its high prevalence worldwide. What this study addsThis study, based on a large prospective cohort study, provides evidence on real-world AF costs and their development over time. Data-derived patient clusters are linked to costs and their respective cost trajectories are assessed. How this study might affect research, practice or policyThe identified patient clusters and their characteristics may help clinicians and payers to gain an early insight and understanding of the magnitude of the expected AF-related healthcare costs.