SURFACE

(in support of ablation candidates)

Catheter ablation (CA) is a common primary strategy to control AF symptoms in select patient populations (i.e., highly symptomatic paroxysmal AF), or in cases where pharmacologic therapies have failed or cannot be tolerated. While the benefits of CA are clear, the procedure is not without drawbacks. A recent Canadian cost-effectiveness study estimated the incremental cost of CA per quality-adjusted life year at $59,194 in comparison to anti-arrhythmia drugs (AADs).

The Canadian Medical Association 2016 pre-budget submission to the Minister of Finance is clear: we must innovate to better support involvement of patients in effective treatment decision making to facilitate efficient use of resources. This proposal targets latest innovations in decision science to empower Canadians living with AF by improving the quality of treatment-related decision making.