title: [Cost-effectiveness of lowering of blood cholesterol using simvastatin and cholestyramine].
abstract: With use of a model of the costs and effects of cholesterol lowering therapy in the primary prevention of coronary heart disease, the cost-effectiveness of simvastatin and cholestyramine in the Netherlands have been estimated. Costs per year of life saved by cholestyramine therapy are several times greater than those of simvastatin therapy and compared unfavorably with those of generally accepted health care programs in the Netherlands. Cholesterol-lowering with simvastatin in men can be cost-effective when therapy is initiated at an early age. At cholesterol levels between 6.5 and 8 mmol/l, however, therapy should be restricted to men with at least one, preferably two additional risk factors such as hypertension or diabetes mellitus. Among women, cholesterol lowering can only be cost-effective when therapy is limited to women with diabetes mellitus or severely elevated serum cholesterol levels.
authors.affiliation: Erasmus Universiteit, Instituut voor Medische Technology Assessment, Rotterdam.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Martens
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Rutten
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kuijpens
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Winter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012737:Sex Factors; D019821:Simvastatin
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D002792:Cholestyramine Resin; D008148:Lovastatin; D019821:Simvastatin
vernacular_title: De kosten-effectiviteit van verlaging van het cholesterolgehalte met simvastatine en colestyramine.