Economic benefits of amlodipine treatment in patients with coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the potential savings in overall cardiovascular disease (CVD) treatment costs for the US population with coronary artery disease (CAD) resulting from the use of amlodipine.


METHODS
Using patient-level data from a retrospective analysis of the Prospective Evaluation of the Vascular Effects of Norvasc Trial (PREVENT), a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial (n = 825), we constructed a Markov cohort simulation model to estimate the health economic outcomes of patients with CAD treated with either amlodipine or placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Healthcare payer perspective.


RESULTS
The expected number of CVD events for amlodipine recipients was significantly lower than the number of CVD events in the placebo cohort (p < 0.01). The net present value of the cost per patient for CVD treatment was estimated to be $US14 117 for amlodipine recipients and $US16 683 (1999 values, assuming a 3% discount rate) for placebo recipients over 3 years of follow-up with cost savings realised in the amlodipine cohorts after 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
According to the model, amlodipine results in an expected per patient cost savings of $US2566 over a 3-year period, mainly due to a reduction in hospitalisations for cardiovascular-related events and procedures.
Casciano
Roman
R
The Analytica Group, New York 10016, USA. rcasciano@theanalyticagroup.com
Doyle
John J
JJ
Chen
John
J
Arikian
Steve
S
Casciano
Julian
J
Kugel
Heather
H
Arocho
Raul
R
D017311:Amlodipine / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008390:Markov Chains; D018803:Models, Economic; D011446:Prospective Studies
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D017311:Amlodipine