OBJECTIVETo investigate the cost-utility of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in China.

METHODSA total of 630 patients from 13 cities undergoing PCI during the first half year of 2006 were enrolled in this study. The 36 items derived from the short form of health survey (SF-36) were applied prospectively in these patients before and 9 months after PCI. The cost per every incremental mark of SF-36 and quality adjusted life year (QALY) were calculated.

RESULTS(1) The age was lower than 60 years old in more than 50% patients. (2) In terms of detailed costs, material costs accounted for 82.5% of the hospitalization costs, medications costs accounted for 6. 8% , and operation fee accounted for 5.9%. These 3 items comprised 95.2% of overall hospitalization costs, and 69. 8% material costs were the cost for stents. (3)The average re-admission hospitalization costs were 17 841.5 RMB in 44 patients who were rehospitalized due to occurrence of major adverse cardiac events. (4) Follow-up made at months 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 post index procedure showed that an average cost for postoperative drug treatment was 831.50 RMB per month, and most patients spent 400.0 RMB for drug treatment per month. (5) The average quality of life score increased by 20.59 post PCI (P < 0.05 vs. pre-PCI). The cost-effective analysis indicates that the cost per every incremental mark of SF-36 was 3975.7 RMB. The cost per every QALY gained was 59 898. 3 RMB.

CONCLUSIONPCI is effective for patients with coronary heart disease and the cost per QALY in China was positioned in an acceptable range.