ZOLL®, an Asahi Kasei company specializing in medical devices and software solutions, has announced the results of two significant studies on the economic burden of heart failure resulting from severe heart attacks and the long-term cost-effectiveness of SuperSaturated Oxygen (SSO2) Therapy. These studies underscore the urgent need for cost-effective therapies that enhance quality of life and alleviate the long-term economic impact of heart failure. SSO2 Therapy, which is administered immediately after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), is the only FDA-approved treatment demonstrated to preserve damaged heart muscle following a severe heart attack, specifically an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
The Burden of Illness (BOI) Study, the first to assess adult STEMI survivors, was conducted with IQVIA, Inc. and presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus 2024 meeting. This claims-based analysis quantified the clinical and economic burden associated with heart failure in this population. Additionally, ZOLL sponsored a second study in collaboration with the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) to evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of reducing infarct size in adult anterior STEMI patients treated with SuperSaturated Oxygen (SSO2) Therapy compared to standard care, which was presented at the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) 2024 Congress.
The BOI analysis reviewed healthcare claims for 3,236 STEMI survivors (ages 20-85) and found that 34.4% had a new heart failure diagnosis within two months of their STEMI. The all-cause healthcare costs for patients with heart failure were 31% higher than those for other survivors. These findings highlight the pressing need for effective, cost-efficient therapies to improve quality of life for STEMI survivors and reduce the projected $70 billion economic burden of heart failure by 2030. The ICER study assessed the economic value of SSO2 Therapy against standard care, revealing a cost-effectiveness ratio of $12,926 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained, indicating that SSO2 is highly cost-effective for anterior STEMI patients.
“These results demonstrate that SSO2 Therapy is highly cost-effective for patients with acute anterior STEMI undergoing primary PCI,” said Dr. David Cohen, Director of Academic Affairs at St. Francis Hospital, NY. He noted that the SSO2 ICER compares favorably with other therapies like intravascular imaging and microaxial flow pumps.
Matt Rochner, General Manager of ZOLL’s TherOx business, emphasized that the ICER study supports previous clinical findings, confirming the value of SSO2 in addressing the illness burden associated with STEMI. “We know from our IC-HOT study that patients receiving SSO2 Therapy had a significantly lower chance of developing heart failure over one year,” he added.
SSO2 Therapy is indicated for anterior STEMI patients receiving primary PCI with stenting within six hours of symptom onset. Administered right after PCI, SSO2 Therapy delivers high levels of dissolved oxygen (7-10x normal) directly to the heart to aid tissue recovery. Studies have shown it is associated with lower rates of heart failure and mortality within one year, and it is the only FDA-approved therapy to reduce infarct size.
About ZOLL
ZOLL, an Asahi Kasei company, develops medical devices and software solutions that enhance emergency care, save lives, and improve clinical efficiency. Their products support defibrillation, cardiac monitoring, circulation enhancement, supersaturated oxygen therapy, and more, providing a comprehensive set of technologies to improve patient outcomes in critical cardiopulmonary conditions.
About Asahi Kasei
The Asahi Kasei Group has been contributing to life and well-being globally since its founding in 1922. With over 49,000 employees, the company focuses on sustainable solutions in three business sectors: Material, Homes, and Health Care. Its healthcare operations include acute critical care devices, dialysis systems, and pharmaceuticals, addressing the evolving needs of society.
