A cost-minimization of heart failure therapy with bisoprolol in the French setting: An analysis from CIBIS trial data

Beta-blocker-induced benefit in heart failure is under intense evaluation. Several large-scale mortality trials are currently being performed, with CIBIS II evaluating bisoprolol. The economic impact of beta-blocker therapy in heart failure has not been previously determined. The present study is a cost-effectiveness evaluation of bisoprolol treatment based on CIBIS I data. It considers direct costs, that is, the bisoprolol medication cost and the cost of hospitalization related to heart failure and its complications. Hospitalization costs were calculated from the French system of classification (PMSI), which provides costs according to homogeneous groups of patients (GHM). The cost difference between bisoprolol and placebo in the entire CIBIS population and the trial duration result from an increase in cost caused by bisoprolol treatment (+ 2018 Frs/patient) and a decrease in cost related to reduced hospitalization (6349 Frs/patient). A total savings per patient of about 4330 Frs was produced by bisoprolol. Cost reduction is still more pronounced in patients not having a history of myocardial infarction. We conclude that heart failure therapy with bisoprolol lowers medical healthcare costs, mainly due to the reduced rate of hospital admissions for heart failure.