Expenditures of the German statutory health insurance system for patients suffering from acute coronary syndrome and treated with percutaneous coronary intervention.

Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are in need of cost-intensive treatment involving different aspects of the German Health System. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the treatment of choice for a large proportion of cases. In the present study, an analysis of the cost impact of ACS with focus on PCI therapy was conducted across-the-board for the German Health System. Results indicated that 85% of all costs arising from treatment of ACS with a trial of PCI are due to in-patient care. Projection of results onto the entire insurant collective of the statutory health system estimated a total of Euro 954,995,603-a proportional 0.7% of all expenditure by statutory health insurance in 2005.