Economic assessment of tirofiban in the management of acute coronary syndromes in the hospital setting: an analysis based on the PRISM PLUS trial.
OBJECTIVE
We analysed whether generalized use of tirofiban plus heparin and aspirin might save direct healthcare costs, as compared with heparin and aspirin alone, in patients with acute coronary ischaemic syndromes in Switzerland.


RESULTS
We conducted an incremental cost-consequence analysis from the perspective of the admitting hospital for the period of the first 7 days. Costs were analysed for the management of refractory ischaemic conditions and myocardial infarctions, including incremental days on the general ward or intensive care unit, as well as necessary revascularization procedures, and expressed in Swiss francs (CHF) and European currency units (ECU). Drug costs were based on a loading dose of 0.4 micro x kg(-1) x min(-1)and a maintenance dose of 0.1 micro x kg(-1) x min(-1)for tirofiban at a cost of CHF 273.55 (ECU 166.50) per vial. Heparin was administered at a loading dose of 5000 U and a maintenance dose of 1000 U x h(-1). All calculations were standardized to 100 treated patients. The costs of managing ischaemic complications were based on typical practice patterns in Swiss hospitals. The incremental costs per patient of managing unstable angina patients with recurrent ischaemia or myocardial infarction were calculated as CHF 23 325 (ECU 14 198) and CHF 18 599 (ECU 11 321), respectively. The incremental drug costs amounted to CHF 82 065 (ECU 49 954). The additional use of tirofiban resulted in net savings of CHF 54 899 (ECU 33 418) per 100 patients, achieved through a reduction in the cost of treating refractory ischaemic conditions (CHF 79 306, ECU 48 275) and myocardial infarctions (CHF 57 658, ECU 35 097).


CONCLUSIONS
Tirofiban is cost-saving in acute coronary ischaemic syndromes and improves the economics of managing these patients during the initial hospitalization.
Szucs
T D
TD
Department of Medical Economics, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
Meyer
B J
BJ
Kiowski
W
W
D000789:Angina, Unstable / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006493:Heparin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013557:Switzerland; D000077466:Tirofiban; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014443:Tyrosine; D006493:Heparin; D000077466:Tirofiban