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Cost Effectiveness of t‐PA Therapy
Author(s) -
NADAREISHVILI ZURAB G.,
SMARAWSKA LILIANA T.,
NORRIS JOHN W.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-1331.1998.5404232.x
Subject(s) - medicine , stroke (engine) , incidence (geometry) , emergency medicine , acute stroke , ischemic stroke , brain infarction , cerebral infarction , emergency department , intensive care medicine , psychiatry , mechanical engineering , physics , ischemia , optics , engineering
Although the effect of t‐PA treatment in acute cerebral infarction remains controversial, there is evidence based data that it may prove effective if given early and with appropriate criteria. We have calculated the cost of t‐PA treatment in Canada assuming that 35 000 of the 50 000 yearly stroke incidence is due to acute ischemic stroke. The cost of treating one patient is about $7 000 CDN, and the cost effectiveness depends upon the number of eligible patients. At present in our region in Toronto, about 20% of these arrive in the emergency room of a tertiary care hospital within 3 hours. With regional stroke centres such as those in Canada, we calculate that with this degree of eligibility there would be considerable cost‐savings.