Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Comparative effectiveness and healthcare utilization for ambulatory cardiac monitoring strategies in Medicare beneficiaries
Authors' conclusion
There was large variation in diagnostic monitoring strategy. A specific LTCM was associated with the highest adjusted odds of a new arrhythmia diagnosis and lowest adjusted odds of repeat ACM testing. LTCM as a category had the lowest incremental acute care utilization.
Study context
- Population
- Diagnostic-naïve Medicare beneficiaries receiving first-time ambulatory cardiac monitoring, 2017–2018
- Participants
- 287,789 beneficiaries
- Exposure
- Holter vs long-term continuous monitor (LTCM) vs ambulatory event monitor (AEM) vs mobile cardiac telemetry (MCT)
- Outcome
- Arrhythmia encounter diagnosis
- Follow-up
- 3 months
Methodological details100% Medicare claims data, device-specific analysis by manufacturer
- 100% Medicare claims data
- Device-specific analysis by manufacturer
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Use of monitoring strategy
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Holter | LTCM | AEM | MCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year incremental health care expenditures | $10,755 | mean Δ $10,159 | $11,462 | $12,532 |
Specific arrhythmia diagnoses (VT, atrioventricular block, paroxysmal AF)
- Findings consistent
Original publication
Comparative effectiveness and healthcare utilization for ambulatory cardiac monitoring strategies in Medicare beneficiaries. Am Heart J. Published 10 December 2023. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →