Table 7 Economic data for included studies

Levin et al.

(1991) [13]

For direct costs, the source of data on resource use is unclear.

For indirect costs, resource loss data (e.g. sick leave) is gathered from the Swedish National Health Insurance system.

For indirect cost, production loss calculated using data from The Swedish Health Insurance System (NHIS).

Productivity loss due to patient sick leave/ early retirement and time cost of training/ outpatient visits.

Sensitivity analysis

Did not perform subgroup analysis

Swedish Kroner (SEK), 1988

Costs based on an exchange rate of £1 = SEK10.90, September 1990.

Costs discounted at a rate of 5%.

Total direct costs: CR group (40, 240 SEK), no CR group (44,150 SEK); Difference (3910 SEK)

Total costs (including patient time costs and loss of production): CR group (484,260 SEK) no CR group (55,7770 SEK); Difference (73,510 SEK)

Oldridge et al.

(1993) [4]

Data on healthcare service utilisation was taken from patients following the intervention (e.g. number of visits to physicians, emergency departments, other health departments and community cardiac rehabilitation programs)

Staff salaries based on Ontario Health Insurance Plan and local wage rates. Program costs estimated per patient as the sum of the costs of renting space, equipment, staff salaries, printed resource literature and patient parking expenses.

Patient travel, time, equipment and childcare cost

Scenario analysis

Did not perform subgroup analysis

USD$

Costs expressed as 1991 USD$ based on Canadian/US currency exchange rates and US medical care inflation.

Best estimate incremental cost $480 (range $230–$1280). QALY gained with CR: 0.052.

Ades et al.

(1997) [16]

Reference to previous study in which offset savings attributable to rehospitalisation were calculated from a computerised review of billing data from five regional hospitals.

Data derived from published results of randomised trials.

Not included

Sensitivity analysis

Did not perform subgroup analysis

USD$, 1988

Costs projected to 1995 using the US Consumer Price Index for inflation

Years per life saved, YLS projections based on annual discount rate of 5%.

Net cost of CR: $430 ($1280–850).

(Discounted) incremental life expectancy: 0.202 years

Cost effectiveness value of $2130/YLS (1980s), projected to $4950/YLS for 1995

Carlson et al.

(2000) [18]

Unclear

Staff costs based on full-time equivalents

Not included

Not Reported

Did not perform subgroup analysis

USD$?

Cost difference: MP $738 less/patient than TP.

Hall et al.

(2002) [15]

Patient groups assumed to have the same resource requirements for in-hospital treatment. Use of non-hospital services by patient self-administered questionnaire. Use of hospital services (hospitalisations) collected from medical records.

Program cost calculated from unit cost data taken from Westmead Hospital.

Patient travel costs

Not Reported

Did not perform subgroup analysis

AUD$, 1999

CR program cost: $21.57 per session per patient

Est. total program cost (14-sessions) $393.68 (includes estimate for hospital overheads of $91.70)

The net cost saved by targeting CR to high-risk patients approx. $300 per low-risk patient.

Southard et al.

(2003) [9]

Resource use data (e.g. hospitalisations and emergency room visits) identified from patient report.

1-week time analysis conducted to calculate staff time.

UB92 forms containing exact cost data was available for nine patients.

For one patient cost data was estimated from AHRQ Healthcare Cost & Utilization Project using ICD-9 codes and the 1999 National Data Set.

Not included (program cost incorporated a $30 patient subscription)

Not Reported

Did not perform subgroup analysis

USD$? 2001?

Total expenditures for major cardiovascular events: intervention group ($31,110), usual care ($104,684); Gross cost savings ($1418 per person)

Fewer cardiovascular-related events: intervention group (15.7%), usual care group (4.1%)

Yu et al.

(2004) [19]

Resource use data collected during trial; patient reported direct medical expenses when private practitioners were consulted.

Healthcare costs based on published hospital costs.

Costs of hospitalisations, investigations, interventions, clinic visits taken from local official publication on hospital charges.

Drug costs on published local drug formulary.

Not included

Not Reported

Did not perform subgroup analyses

USD$

Dates of unit costs not reported

Direct healthcare cost: CR Group ($15,292), no CR Group ($15,707); Difference ($415)

The 2-yr. mean gain in QALYs: CR Group (0.6)

The cost utility ratio for the CR program: -$650