title: Application of the 1998 Canadian cholesterol guidelines to a military population: health benefits and cost effectiveness of improved cholesterol management.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether statins are underprescribed in the Canadian military. The cost effectiveness of statin therapy in patients identified by the 1998 Canadian cholesterol interim guidelines was also explored.
  
  
  METHODS
  Charts of 1424 Canadian military personnel (age 45 or older) were reviewed at 11 Canadian bases. Risk factors and cholesterol values were used to identify drug therapy candidates. Cost effectiveness ratios and health benefits in terms of years of life saved for statin therapy were estimated for the candidates using a validated cardiovascular disease life expectancy model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1313 personnel not on lipid lowering medication, 172 were identified as drug therapy candidates. An average of 2.89 years of life saved was forecast for the identified personnel, at an average cost of less than 10,000 dollars per year of life saved.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The health benefits of statin therapy in this population are substantial and the cost effectiveness is acceptable. Statin therapy warrants greater attention as a preventive strategy for coronary artery disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada. johannaspaans@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Johanna N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Spaans
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coyle
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fodor
authors.forename: Rama
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Régis
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vaillancourt
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Grover
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Coupal
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000517:prevention & control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors