Cost-effectiveness of pravastatin therapy for survivors of myocardial infarction with average cholesterol levels.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of pravastatin therapy in survivors of myocardial infarction with average cholesterol levels.


METHODS
We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis based on actual clinical, cost, and health-related quality-of-life data from the Cholesterol and Recurrent Events (CARE) trial. Survival and recurrent coronary heart disease events were modeled from trial data in Markov models, with the use of different assumptions regarding the long-term benefit of therapy.


RESULTS
Pravastatin therapy increased quality-adjusted life expectancy at an incremental cost of $16,000 to $32,000 per quality-adjusted life-year gained. In subgroup analyses, the cost-effectiveness of pravastatin therapy was more favorable for patients >60 years of age and for patients with pretreatment low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels >125 mg/dL. Results were sensitive to the cost of pravastatin and to assumptions about long-term survival benefits from pravastatin therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
The cost-effectiveness of pravastatin therapy in survivors of myocardial infarction with average cholesterol levels compares favorably with other interventions.
Tsevat
J
J
Section of Outcomes Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Center for Clinical Effectiveness, Institute for Health Policy and Health Services Research, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, OH, USA. joel.tsevat@uc.edu
Kuntz
K M
KM
Orav
E J
EJ
Weinstein
M C
MC
Sacks
F M
FM
Goldman
L
L
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D017035:Pravastatin