Benefits of lipid-lowering agents in stroke and coronary heart disease: Pharmacoeconomics

Abstract

Coronary heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Although coronary heart disease and stroke entail very expensive therapies and extensive hospital utilization, the cost of preventive measures is also quite expensive. In this review, the factors that determine the cost-effectiveness of statin therapy for the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease are discussed. A risk-based strategy for the selection of patients seems to provide cost-effective utilization of this potent treatment strategy. Appropriate patient selection should be accompanied by aggressive measures to improve utilization and compliance through improved physician and patient education.

Statins for Cardiovascular Prevention According to Different Strategies

“…However, inconsistencies exist at lower levels. [6,7,36] Franco et al [9,37] reviewed 24 studies of costeffectiveness analyses of statins. Estimated ratios increase with decreasing risk.…”

Pharmacoeconomics of lipid-lowering drugs

“…Combination therapies involving multiple lipid-lowering drugs and therapies for common comorbid conditions have been subject to some clinical analysis, but economic analyses have yet to be conducted for a wide set of conditions and treatments [41][42][43]48]. Research suggesting trade-offs between medical and surgical therapies for coronary heart disease merit analysis on total costs and the distribution of costs among involved parties [27].…”

“…Statins have been used in trials ranging from acute coronary syndromes and stroke, which may be closely related to cardiovascular disease, to diabetes and dementia, where the usual mechanisms of actions are less clear [41][42][43][44].…”

Cerebrovascular Disease in Italy and Europe: It is Necessary to Prevent a 'Pandemia'

“…It is now evident that atherosclerosis diagnosis, complications, and therapy have to be considered in a context of integrated family medicine, at both individual and population levels from (1) evaluation of all the principal risk factors and (2) early adoption of preventive measures that guarantee evidencebased results on more objective clinical results (as in the case of the myocardial infarction and stroke prevention), as well as optimization of the costs of prevention [10,11].…”