Cost-effectiveness and system-wide impact of using Hepatitis C-viremic donors for heart transplant

J Heart Lung Transplant. 2022 Jan;41(1):37-47. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2021.09.002. Epub 2021 Sep 13.

Abstract

Background: The advent of direct-acting antiviral therapy for Hepatitis C (HCV) has made using HCV-viremic donors a viable strategy to address the donor shortage in heart transplantation. We employed a large-scale simulation to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of using HCV-viremic donors for heart transplant.

Methods: We simulated detailed histories from time of listing until death for the real-world cohort of all adults listed for heart transplant in the United States from July 2014 to June 2019 (n = 19,346). This population was imputed using historical data and captures "real-world" heterogeneity in geographic and clinical characteristics. We estimated the impact of an intervention in which all candidates accept HCV+ potential donors (n = 472) on transplant volume, waitlist outcomes, and lifetime costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

Results: The intervention produced 232 more transplants, 132 fewer delistings due to deterioration, and 50 fewer waitlist deaths within this 5-year cohort and reduced wait times by 3% to 11% (varying by priority status). The intervention was cost-effective, adding an average of 0.08 QALYs per patient at a cost of $124 million ($81,892 per QALY). DAA therapy and HCV care combined account for 11% this cost, with the remainder due to higher costs of transplant procedures and routine post-transplant care. The impact on transplant volume varied by blood type and region and was correlated with donor-to-candidate ratio (ρ = 0.71).

Conclusions: Transplanting HCV+ donor hearts is likely to be cost-effective and improve waitlist outcomes, particularly in regions and subgroups experiencing high donor scarcity.

Keywords: cost-effectiveness analysis; donor selection; health policy; heart transplantation; transplant allocation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / economics*
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis*
  • Donor Selection / economics*
  • Female
  • Heart Transplantation*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / economics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • United States
  • Viremia / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents