title: Cost effectiveness of rosuvastatin in treating patients to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals compared with atorvastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin (a US Analysis of the STELLAR Trial).
abstract: Statin therapy decreases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and the risk of coronary heart disease but has a considerable short-term effect on health care budgets. The cost effectiveness of rosuvastatin (Crestor) has been compared with those of atorvastatin, pravastatin, and simvastatin in lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and achieving National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III low-density lipoprotein cholesterol goals. The analysis was conducted from the perspective of health care payers in the United States. Clinical data were obtained from the Statin Therapies for Elevated Lipid Levels Compared Across Doses to Rosuvastatin (STELLAR) trial. Drug costs were based on wholesale acquisition costs. Cost effectiveness was assessed with the net monetary benefit approach and a 1-year time horizon. Rosuvastatin at 10 mg, the recommended starting dose, was the most cost-effective statin over a large range of "willingness-to-pay" values for a unit of clinical effect (i.e., a 1% decrease in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or a patient achieving the goal).
authors.affiliation: AstraZeneca UK Limited, Macclesfield, United Kingdom. paul.miller3@astrazeneca.com
authors.forename: Paul S J
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Dean G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D017035:Pravastatin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011758:Pyrroles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin; D017035:Pravastatin