How long does someone with atrial fibrillation live after you save their life?
The average age of patients in RE-LYwas 71.4 years. The average years of life a female can expect to live beyond 71 years is 14 years and a male is 13 years:
(http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/births_deaths_marriages_divorces/life_expectancy.html).
Patients who have atrial fibrillation may live less than the usual 13.5 years for a 71 year old. The survival of an atrial fibrillation patient may depend upon co-morbidities. Although post CABG atrial fibrillation may have a limited impact on survival, some conditions such as systolic heart failure that are associated with atrial fibrillation are associated with a 1.9 fold higher risk of dying.
Given that the risk of dying is doubled in these patients, let’s assume that the survival of a 71-year old atrial fibrillation patient is cut in half to 6.75 years. Using this number will yield a conservative estimate of cost effectiveness. </s>