Application Detail

Status

Closed

Description of Medical Service

Cardiac ablation for atrial fibrillation

Description of Medical Condition

Atrial fibrillation (AF) may cause symptoms of palpitations, shortness of breath and fatigue, which often leads to an impaired quality of life. It is also independently associated with an increased long-term risk of stroke, heart failure and all-cause death. Treatment involves rate or rhythm control, anticoagulant therapy and treating underlying risk factors. For rhythm control, anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy has been the cornerstone of medical management, but some patients show resistance to AAD or need to discontinue treatment due to side-effects. Cardiac ablation for the treatment of AF is increasingly being performed in symptomatic patients as an alternative to medical management, when medical management has been ineffective or not tolerated.

Reason for Application

The Prostheses List Advisory Committee (PLAC) asked MSAC to undertake a review of the comparative clinical and cost-effectiveness of cardiac ablation for AF.

Information about PLAC's consideration of cardiac ablation for atrial fibrillation is available at: www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-privatehealth-prostheses-reform.

Medical Service Type

Therapeutic

Previous Application Number

Not Applicable

Associated Documentation

Application Form

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PICO Confirmation

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Assessment Report

Assessment report and attachments

Public Summary Document

Final MSAC Minutes - November 2018 (PDF 1263 KB)
Final MSAC Minutes - November 2018 (Word 80 KB)

Final MSAC Minutes - February 2019 (PDF 310 KB)
Final MSAC Minutes - February 2019 (Word 71 KB)

Meetings for this Application

PASC

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ESC

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MSAC

22-23 November 2018
1 February 2019