title: Pharmacoeconomics of lipid-lowering drugs.
abstract: The widespread use and high cost of lipid-lowering drugs have resulted in numerous investigations of their cost effectiveness. Pharmacoeconomic analyses have considered initiation of treatment, maintenance therapy, and long-term outcomes of lipid-lowering therapy. Analyses have yielded a number of consistent messages, but the story continues to evolve as new trials, models, and drugs are introduced. Certain medications are more efficacious and associated with more cost-effective lipid-lowering therapy initiation. Other medications are lower priced and may be more cost effective for maintenance, contingent upon having achieved lipid-lowering goals. Finally, some medications have proven long-term cost effectiveness in trials and comparative cost effectiveness in models. Research is certain to further our understanding of the costs of lipid-lowering therapy and the methods needed to optimize expenditures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Management & Policy, University of Michigan, 109 Observatory, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029, USA. deans@umich.edu
authors.forename: Dean G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016527:Drug Costs; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D006801:Humans; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents