JTCVS Open. 2026 Jun 21;32:101938. doi: 10.1016/j.xjon.2026.101938. eCollection 2026 Aug.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Humanitarian program has emerged as a critical support mechanism for the management of congenital heart disease (CHD), yet its cost-effectiveness at the hospital level receives little investigation.
METHODS: We reviewed 2759 patients underwent CHD surgery at Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases from 2012 to 2022, and received financial aid from nongovernmental organizations. Analyzed data included baseline characteristics, surgical complexity, hospitalization costs, nongovernmental organization funding proportions, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) averted. Cost-effectiveness was calculated as funding expenditure per DALY averted, with adjustments for natural disease history and surgical outcomes.
RESULTS: Charitable fundings covered a median of 31% of hospitalization costs (¥36,564.34/USD $5424.98 per patient), averting 50.82 DALYs per patient at a cost of ¥952.19 ($141.27) per DALY. Neonates and complex CHD cases showed higher number of DALYs averted (59.44 and 54.42, respectively) but lower charitable funding proportions (24% and 32%, respectively). Patients with single-ventricle physiology and patients with previous surgeries exhibited relatively lower cost-effectiveness (¥1627.30 and ¥1349.08 per DALY). Unexpected reinterventions correlated with higher in-hospital mortality (9.6% vs 1%) and lower funding support (19% vs 33%).
CONCLUSIONS: Charitable funding reduces financial barriers for surgical CHD treatment in China, demonstrating high cost-effectiveness. Funding models should evolve to incorporate surgical complexity and patient age, ensuring more reasonable support in the future. More importantly, the demonstrated cost-effectiveness should encourage more organizations to join the effort of funding CHD surgery, which is the most pivotal action at present.
PMID:42604291 | PMC:PMC13476997 | DOI:10.1016/j.xjon.2026.101938