Economic Analysis and Long-term Follow-up of Distant Referral for Degenerative Mitral Valve Repair.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the superiority of mitral valve repair (MVr) over replacement for degenerative disease, repair rates vary widely across centers. Traveling to a mitral reference center (MRC) is 1 way to increase the odds of MVr. This study assessed the economic value (quality/cost) and long-term outcomes of distant referral to an MRC.

Methods

Among 746 mitral surgery patients between January 2011 and June 2013, low-risk patients with an ejection fraction greater than 40% undergoing isolated degenerative MVr were identified and included 26 out-of-state (DISTANT) and 104 in-state patients (LOCAL). Short- and long-term outcomes and institutional financial data (including travel expenses) were used to compare groups. National average and MRC-specific MVr rates, clinical outcom

SUBMITTER: Brescia AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7855358 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature