Unit cost of resource use items
| Resource uses | % of Patients using this resource | Source | Unit cost | Sources of unit cost |
| Medications* | ||||
| Antiarrythmic agents | 43.5 | Roy et al 200839 | $A24.01 | PBS 2923W, 2876J, 1088G, 2343H, 2344J, 2043M, 8396B |
| β-blockers | 79 | Roy et al 200839 | $A30.90 | PBS 2961W, 3062E, 2565B, 2566B, 2566C, 1081X, 2243C, 8640W, 8605X, 8606Y, 6732N, 8733P, 8743Q, 8735R, 1324Q, 1325R, 9311C, 9312D, 9316H |
| Long-acting nitrates | 17 | Roy et al 200839 | $A24.39 | PBS 11 027J, 11 051P, 1459T, 1515R, 1516T, 3475X, 5108W, 8010N, 8011P, 8026K, 8027 L, 8028M, 8119H, 8171C, 2588F, 1558B, 8273K |
| Calcium channel blockers | 2.5 | Roy et al 200839 | $A16.19 | PBS 2751T, 2752W, 2361G, 2366M, 2367N, 8534E, 8679T, 1694E, 1695F, 1906H, 1907J, 8610E, 1241H, 1248Q, 1250T, 2208F |
| Digoxin | 64.5 | Roy et al 200839 | $A23.56 | PBS 1322N, 2605D, 3164M |
| ACE-I | 86 | Roy et al 200839 | $A17.43 | PBS 1147J, 1148K, 1149 L, 8760C, 1368B, 1369B, 1370D, 1182F, 1183G, 2456G, 2457H, 2458J, 3050M, 3051N,8704D, 9006B, 9007C, 9008D, 1968N, 1969P, 1316G, 1944H, 1945J, 1946K, 8470T, 9120B, 9122D, 2791X, 2793B, 8758Y |
| ARB | 11 | Roy et al 200839 | $A19.39 | PBS 8295N, 8296P, 8297Q, 8889W, 5491B, 8397Y, 8447N, 8951D, 8246B, 8247C, 8248D, 5452Y, 8203R, 2147B, 2148C, 8355R, 8356T, 9368C, 9369D, 9370E, 9371F |
| Diuretics | 44.5 | Roy et al 200839 | $A36.36 | PBS 1484D, 1585K, 2436F, 8532C, 1810G, 1810G, 2411X, 2412Y, 2413B, 2414C, 2415D, 3466K, 8879H, 8880J, 2339D, 2340E |
| Antiplatelet agents | 38.5 | Roy et al 200839 | $A15.46 | PBS 4077N, 10 169F, 2275R, 4179Y, 5436D, 8358X, 9317J, 9354H |
| Oral anticoagulants† | 88 | Roy et al 200839 | $A69.74 | PBS 5054B |
| Lipid-lowering drug† | 43 | Roy et al 200839 | $A69.72 | PBS 10377E |
| Outpatient care and examinations | ||||
| Rehabilitation | 13.3 | Neumanm et al 201540 | $A62.25 | MBS 10960 |
| Emergency visit‡ | 1.2 | Neumanm et al 201540 | $A1985.00 | AR-DRG F62C |
| GP visits | 22.3 | Neumanm et al 201540 | $A37.05 | MBS 23 |
| Specialist visits | 5.8 | Neumanm et al 201540 | $A85.55 | MBS 104 |
| Serum urea | 16.7 | NICE HTA report41 | $A9.70 | MBS 66500 |
| Electrolytes test | 16.7 | NICE HTA report41 | $A9.70 | MBS 66500 |
| Creatinine test | 16.7 | NICE HTA report41 | $A9.70 | MBS 66500 |
| GFR§ | 16.7 | NICE HTA report41 | $A9.70 | MBS 66500 |
| Hospitalisation care | ||||
| HF | Cost weight | $9254.65 | ||
| With severe complications | 2.39 | $12 423 | AR-DRG F62A | |
| Without severe complications | 1.07 | $5548 | AR-DRG F62B | |
| Same-day admission | 0.58 | $3037 | AR-DRG F62C | |
| Death due to all causes | Per death | $5199 | Average cost across all AR-DRG items | |
*It was assumed that after catheter ablation procedure, patients do not need antiarrhythmic medications. The remaining medications are the same for both arms.
†According to the Australian Statistics on Medicines 2015, apixaban and atorvastatin+ezetimibe were the mostly prescribed agents.
‡Calculated as the cost/average length of stay=$A3037/1.53 for F62C (HF and shock, transfer less than 5 days).
§The estimated GFR is calculated by the pathology laboratory using the patient’s age, sex and serum creatinine results. Generally calculated using CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) formula (https://www.rcpa.edu.au/Library/Practising-Pathology/RCPA-Manual/Items/Pathology-Tests/E/eGFR).
ACE-I, ACE inhibitor; ARB, angiotensin II receptor blocker; AR-DRG, Australia Adjusted Disease Related Group; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; GP, general practitioner;HF, heart failure; MBS, medical benefits scheme;NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence; PBS, pharmaceutical benefits scheme.