Economic benefits of aggressive lipid lowering: a managed care perspective.
Coronary heart disease (CHD) has high prevalence in the United States and is associated with significant mortality as well as costs to society. Hyperlipidemia is a major and common modifiable risk factor for CHD. In clinical trials, cholesterol-lowering strategies have a dramatic impact on CHD risk, cardiovascular events, and mortality. Cost-effectiveness data have established that clinical and economic benefits are gained by instituting early and aggressive lipid-lowering therapy. We present new evidence for the clinical benefits and cost effectiveness of aggressive lipid-lowering therapy as primary or secondary prevention of CHD and describe strategies that managed care organizations can take to benefit from a lipid management program.
McKenney
J M
JM
Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298, USA.
Kinosian
B
B
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019468:Disease Management; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D014481:United States; D026712:Value of Life