CardioDynamics (Nasdaq:
CDIC), the innovator and leader of BioZ(R) impedance cardiography (ICG)
technology, today announced the publication of a cost-effectiveness study
in the American Heart Hospital Journal's Fall 2006 edition. The study
showed that use of ICG was cost-effective in both the short- and long-term
when compared to standard care treatment of patients with uncontrolled
hypertension.
In the previously-published CONTROL trial, use of ICG in the treatment
of uncontrolled hypertension resulted in an eight millimeter Mercury (mm
Hg) greater systolic blood pressure reduction and a seven mm Hg greater
diastolic blood pressure reduction than standard care. Until the completion
of this cost-effectiveness study, it was unknown whether the clinical
benefits of using ICG in uncontrolled hypertension could also be considered
cost-effective. The short-term cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrated
that the additional blood pressure reduction that was achieved with ICG
care in the CONTROL trial was achieved at a significantly lower incremental
cost than the cost to reduce blood pressure with standard care. ICG care's
incremental cost per mm Hg reduced was $20 for systolic blood pressure (44%
less than standard care's $36 cost per mm Hg reduced) and $23 for diastolic
blood pressure (71% less than standard care's $79 cost per mm Hg reduced).
The long-term cost-effectiveness analysis showed that even if only a
fraction of the short-term blood pressure advantages with ICG were
sustained, patients treated with ICG would likely experience fewer
cardiovascular events and cost almost $500 less to the healthcare system
over a ten-year period. If ICG testing were used in all uncontrolled
hypertensives over the age of 60 in the United States, it was estimated
that the healthcare system could reduce costs by four billion dollars over
a ten-year period.
Carlos M. Ferrario M.D., principal investigator of the CONTROL trial
and Professor and Director of Hypertension and Vascular Disease Center,
Wake Forest University School of Medicine, stated, "The annual cost of
treating hypertension in the United States is over $63 billion, with $23
billion attributed to direct patient care and $24 billion to drug costs. In
today's resource-constrained environment, most healthcare insurance
providers are just as concerned with costs as they are with quality of
care. Therefore, cost-effectiveness analysis is becoming increasingly
important in the evaluation of new technologies and therapies. Two
randomized controlled trials have already shown that use of ICG results in
greater blood pressure reduction and better blood pressure control rates.
Now that we know that use of ICG also results in cost-effective utilization
of healthcare resources, the evidence is even more compelling for greater
use of ICG in this population."
"It is very encouraging to verify that ICG technology not only improves
clinical outcomes, but does so in a way that helps control costs in our
healthcare system. The publication of the CONTROL cost-effectiveness data
is an important milestone as we believe it will aid our efforts to broaden
healthcare insurance coverage of ICG for hypertension, which will allow
more patients to benefit from this important technology," stated Michael K.
Perry, Chief Executive Officer of CardioDynamics. "We remain committed to
making ICG a cardiovascular standard of care and will continue to pursue
research studies that demonstrate ICG's clinical value and
cost-effectiveness."
To obtain copies of the publication, please access the following link:
lejacq/downloads/3rdPartyLinkOut/CrdDyn-HH5728-Ferrario.pdf
About CardioDynamics:
CardioDynamics (Nasdaq: CDIC), the ICG Company, is the innovator and
leader of an important medical technology called BioZ(R) Impedance
Cardiography (ICG). The Company develops, manufactures and markets
noninvasive BioZ(R) ICG products and medical device electrodes. The
Company's BioZ(R) ICG Systems are being used by physicians around the world
to help battle the number one killer of men and women -- cardiovascular
disease. Partners include GE Healthcare and Philips Medical Systems. For
additional information, please refer to the company's Web site at
cdic.
Forward-Looking (Safe Harbor) Statement:
Except for the historical and factual information contained herein,
this press release contains forward-looking statements, such as future
reimbursement, insurance coverage for ICG, the accuracy of which is
necessarily subject to uncertainties and risks including the Company's sole
dependence on the BioZ(R) product line, and various uncertainties
characteristic of early growth companies, as well as other risks detailed
in the Company's filings with the SEC, including its 2005 Form 10-K. The
Company does not undertake to update the disclosures contained in this
press release.
CardioDynamics
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