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ABSTRACT
Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is characterized by substantial health and economic burden, mainly attributed to increased hospitalizations and readmissions. Its diagnosis remains challenging due to the non-specific nature of the initial symptoms of the disease. Recently, scientific evidence has highlighted the potential of natriuretic peptides (NP) in improving the diagnosis and prognosis of HF and, by extension, in restraining healthcare costs. The present review aimed at providing evidence of their optimal use in terms of economic and health outcomes.
Areas covered: Systematic literature research limited to studies published from February 2006 to February 2016 was performed with the aim of identifying and analyzing all cost-effectiveness and other economic evaluation studies that investigated the economic and health outcomes of NPs use as screening and management tools for HF.
Expert commentary: NP testing either added in the standard of care, or substituting frequently used diagnostic procedures for the diagnosis and management of HF, regardless of the healthcare setting of interest, was proved to be a valid tool for clinical decision-making. Moreover it was associated with improved patient outcomes and important cost-savings mainly attributed to lower admission and readmission rates, shorter hospitalization length and improved health-related quality of life.
Declaration of interests
No funding or support of any kind was received for the present paper. KA and JK have received research grants from Sanofi, Pfizer, Novartis and Roche diagnostics for previous research activities. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.