Clinical and Economic Burden of Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Authors: Pierantonio Russo, Ramaa Nathan, Daniel Pfeffer, Jason Poh, Ken Boyle, Brent Wright, Erik Hendrickson.

Summary:

Analyzed claims and clinical data sets from ~32 million type 2 diabetes patients to assess whether early detection via ambulatory ECG monitoring (Zio), among those monitored, reduced health care utilization and expenses.

Key Findings:

Of 32 million patients with T2D studied, 1.19 million developed an arrhythmia, and those who developed an arrhythmia had significantly high comorbidity burden and diabetes severity.

Strongest predictors of arrhythmia were age over 65, hypertension, elevated Diabetes Complication Severity Index (DCSI), and food insecurity.

Annual per-patient cost was substantially higher in the arrhythmia group: ~US $34,171 vs ~US $18,687 in the non-arrhythmia group.

18% of patients were diagnosed with arrhythmias within 4 weeks of being monitored.

Patients who underwent monitoring (Zio) had lower HCRU and costs compared to those never monitored.

- 3x increase in all-cause hospitalization rate in non monitored group compared to those monitored.

- ~2x increase in 30-day readmission rates and ER visits.

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