A new article published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggests that the Medtronic renal denervation system, Symplicity, is a cost-effective strategy for treatment-resistant Hypertension. Currently, the Symplicity system is only available for investigational use in the United States. The statistical model used suggests that incorporating Standard of Care medication therapy, including 3 or greater medications, with renal denervation could potentially reduce cardiovascular mortality by 30% and all-cause mortality by 15% when compared to Standard of Care alone.
The study used Framingham Risk Estimates, the Prospective Cardivascular Munster Heart Study risk equations, recent cohort studies, and recent published mortality rates in their model to predict and estimate clinical events.
Renal denervation is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure that uses radio-frequency energy to alter the output from nerves within the renal arteries. These nerves, part of the sympathetic nerve system, contribute to the overall regulation of blood pressure.
This is extremely promising for those patients with hard to control hypertension, as this can be a potential avenue to avoid polypharmacy and still remain cost effective. However, further randomized controlled trials (which are on-going) will need to be conducted to better solidify the technology’s clinical impact beyond predictive risk models.
Medtronic news release: Health-Economic Analysis Suggests Medtronic Symplicity™ Renal Denervation System Is Cost-Effective and May Reduce Cardiovascular Event Risks for Patients with Treatment-Resistant Hypertension
Study in Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cost-Effectiveness and Clinical Effectiveness of Catheter-Based Renal Denervation for Resistant Hypertension
SYMPLICITY HTN-3 U.S Clinical Trial info page…
Flashbacks: Medtronic Starts Trial with Symplicity Renal Denervation System for Chronic Heart Failure and Renal Impairment; Medtronic Gets FDA Nod for Renal Denervation Trial
