With no capacity limits, the average costs were EUR 5,516 with drug-eluting stents for all diabetic patients and nondiabetic patients with long lesions or narrow vessels (strategy one), EUR 5,446 with drug-eluting stents for all patients with long lesions or narrow vessels (strategy two), EUR 5,285 with drug-eluting stents for diabetic patients with long lesions or narrow vessels (strategy three), and EUR 5,269 with bare metal stents for all patients (strategy four). The QALYs were 0.86312 with strategy one, 0.86311 with strategy two, 0.86302 with strategy three, and 0.86296 with strategy four.
Compared with strategy four, the incremental cost per QALY gained was EUR 1,580,492 with strategy one, EUR 1,143,679 with strategy two, and EUR 275,939 with strategy three.
With limited capacity, the average costs were EUR 7,286 with strategy one, EUR 7,220 with strategy two, EUR 7,220 with strategy three, and EUR 7,293 with strategy four. The QALYs were 0.84372 with strategy one, 0.84367 with strategy two, 0.84180 with strategy three, and 0.84077 with strategy four.
Compared with strategy two, the incremental cost per QALY gained was EUR 1,402,455 with strategy one, while the other two strategies were dominated as they were more expensive and less effective. The inclusion of capacity limits increased the costs and reduced the QALYs for all strategies. Strategy four (bare metal stents for all patients) was the most cost-effective with no capacity limits, but was dominated with a limited capacity.
Consistent results were achieved when considering the incremental cost per re-intervention avoided.