Cost Effectiveness of Drive and Retrieve System in Hokkaido for Acute Ischemic Stroke Patient Treatment Using Geographic Information System.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although endovascular thrombectomy combined with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator is effective for treatment of acute ischemic stroke, regional disparities in implementation rates of those treatments have been reported. Drive and retrieve system, where a qualified neurointerventionist travels to another primary stroke center for endovascular thrombectomy, has been practiced in parts of Hokkaido, Japan. This study aims to simulate the cost effectiveness of the drive and retrieve system, which can be a method to enhance equality and cost effectiveness of treatments for acute ischemic stroke. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The number of patients who had acute ischemic stroke in 2015 is estimated. Those patients are generated according to the population distribution, and thereafter patient transport time is analyzed in the 3 scenarios (1) 60-minute drive scenario, (2) 90-minute drive scenario, in which the drive and retrieve system operates within 60-minute or 90-minute driving distance (3) without the system, using geographic information system. Incremental cost-effectiveness rate, quality-adjusted life years, and medical and nursing care costs are estimated from the analyzed transport time. FINDINGS: The incremental cost-effectiveness rate by implementing the system was dominant. Cost reductions of $213,190 in 60-minute drive scenario, and $247,274 in the 90-minute scenario were expected, respectively. Such benefits are the most significant in Soya, Emmon, Rumoi, and Kamikawahokubu medical areas. CONCLUSIONS: The drive and retrieve system could enhance regional equality and cost effectiveness of ischemic stroke treatments in Hokkaido, which can be achieved using existing resources. Further studies are required to clarify its cost effectiveness from hospital perspective.