TY - JOUR T1 - Conceptual model for early health technology assessment of current and novel heart valve interventions JF - Open Heart JO - Open Heart DO - 10.1136/openhrt-2016-000500 VL - 3 IS - 2 SP - e000500 AU - Simone A Huygens AU - Maureen P M H Rutten-van Mölken AU - Jos A Bekkers AU - Ad J J C Bogers AU - Carlijn V C Bouten AU - Steven A J Chamuleau AU - Peter P T de Jaegere AU - Arie Pieter Kappetein AU - Jolanda Kluin AU - Nicolas M D A van Mieghem AU - Michel I M Versteegh AU - Maarten Witsenburg AU - Johanna J M Takkenberg Y1 - 2016/10/01 UR - http://openheart.bmj.com/content/3/2/e000500.abstract N2 - Objective The future promises many technological advances in the field of heart valve interventions, like tissue-engineered heart valves (TEHV). Prior to introduction in clinical practice, it is essential to perform early health technology assessment. We aim to develop a conceptual model (CM) that can be used to investigate the performance and costs requirements for TEHV to become cost-effective.Methods After scoping the decision problem, a workgroup developed the draft CM based on clinical guidelines. This model was compared with existing models for cost-effectiveness of heart valve interventions, identified by systematic literature search. Next, it was discussed with a Delphi panel of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists and a biomedical scientist (n=10).Results The CM starts with the valve implantation. If patients survive the intervention, they can remain alive without complications, die from non-valve-related causes or experience a valve-related event. The events are separated in early and late events. After surviving an event, patients can experience another event or die due to non-valve-related causes. Predictors will include age, gender, NYHA class, left ventricular function and diabetes. Costs and quality adjusted life years are to be attached to health conditions to estimate long-term costs and health outcomes.Conclusions We developed a CM that will serve as foundation of a decision-analytic model that can estimate the potential cost-effectiveness of TEHV in early development stages. This supports developers in deciding about further development of TEHV and identifies promising interventions that may result in faster take-up in clinical practice by clinicians and reimbursement by payers. ER -