Pulmonary vascular disease & thromboembolismMeta-analysis
Impact of catheter-directed thrombolysis on the socio-economic burden of pulmonary embolism in Germany: a cost-effectiveness analysis
- cost-effectiveness analysis
- systematic review and meta-analysis
- dynamic budget impact analysis (BIA) model
- healthcare provider’s (payer’s) and societal perspective
- 5-year time horizon
Authors' conclusion
In selected patients with acute PE, catheter-directed interventions may improve patient outcomes while remaining within the acceptable cost-effectiveness threshold.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with intermediate- or high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) in Germany
- Comparison
- CDT vs. standard of care
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Life-years (LY) and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) · 5-year time horizon
| Group | Life-years (LY) | Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) |
|---|---|---|
| CDT | 4.13 | 3.58 |
| Standard of care (SoC) | 3.90 | 3.38 |
Further pooled results
| Outcome | CDT | SoC |
|---|---|---|
| Costs, societal perspective · costs were lower for CDT than for SoC | €33 313 | €37 501 |
Incremental cost-utility ratio (ICUR), payer’s perspective
- ICUR for CDT
- €27 349 per QALY
Sensitivity and subgroup analyses
- Cost-effectiveness of CDT confirmed in patients with intermediate-risk PE
- Cost-effectiveness persisted when only randomized controlled trials were considered
- Probabilistic analysis confirmed the robustness of the model
Budget impact analysis
- Despite higher upfront treatment costs of CDT in the acute phase, cost savings can be expected in the long term
Original publication
Impact of catheter-directed thrombolysis on the socio-economic burden of pulmonary embolism in Germany: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. Published 19 January 2026. doi:10.1093/ehjqcco/qcag003
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it