Economics of drug‐coated balloons for arteriovenous fistula stenosis in Japan and Korea based on the IN.PACT AV access trial

AIM: The recent IN.PACT AV Access study found drug‐coated balloon therapy to be associated with reduced reinterventions compared to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty using standard balloons in the management of arteriovenous fistula stenosis. The economic implications of drug‐coated balloon use in Asia, including Japan and Korea, remain unknown. METHODS: A decision‐analytic model was developed to calculate strategy‐specific costs for Korea and Japan through 5‐year follow‐up. The analysis assumed maintained therapy benefit beyond current trial follow‐up of 1 year in the base case, with several alternative scenarios explored in sensitivity analysis. Costs were derived from claims and reimbursement data, and projections were evaluated at 3 and 5 years post‐index procedure. RESULTS: Model‐projected access circuit reintervention events for drug‐coated versus standard balloons were 1.70 versus 2.76 (−1.06) and 2.53 versus 4.10 (−1.57) at 3 and 5 years in the base case. Corresponding 3‐ and 5‐year costs were ₩6 211 103 versus ₩7 605 553 (−₩1 394 451) and ₩7 766 051 versus ₩10 124 954 (−₩2 358 904) in Korea, and ¥1 469 824 versus ¥1 504 161 (−¥34 337) and ¥1 956 931 versus ¥2 106 632 (−¥149 701) in Japan. In scenario analyses, drug‐coated balloons remained cost saving at 3‐ and 5‐year follow‐up in Korea, but required up to 5 years to reach cost‐savings in Japan. Drug‐coated balloon use in reinterventions increased projected savings, as did younger treatment age. CONCLUSION: Treatment of arteriovenous fistulas with the IN.PACT AV drug‐coated balloon, based on preliminary data, may lead to meaningful reductions in reintervention costs that would render it cost‐saving at timeframes of around 1 year in Korea and between 3 and 5 years in Japan.