Rosuvastatin is cost-effective compared with atorvastatin in reaching cholesterol goals.
BACKGROUND
Lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. The introduction of a highly efficacious new statin, rosuvastatin, may enable more patients to be treated to LDL-C goal within a fixed budget.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the cost-effectiveness of rosuvastatin 10 mg and atorvastatin 10 mg in lowering LDL-C and achieving guideline goals after 12 weeks of treatment. The LDL-C goals were those recommended by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP) III and the Third Joint European Task Force.


METHODS
The analysis was performed on pooled data from three clinical trials. Efficacy was measured as the percent reduction in LDL-C and the proportion of patients who reached guideline LDL-C goals following the first 12 weeks of treatment, prior to dose titration. Costs comprised drug acquisition costs only. The cost-effectiveness measures were cost per 1% reduction in LDL-C and cost per patient treated to their LDL-C goal.


RESULTS
Treatment with rosuvastatin 10 mg costs 1.85 per 1% reduction in LDL-C, compared with 2.37 per 1% reduction with atorvastatin 10 mg. The average costs per patient treated to the European LDL-C goals were 130.18 for rosuvastatin 10 mg and 242.44 for atorvastatin 10 mg. Treating to NCEP ATP III goals costs 115 per patient treated with rosuvastatin 10 mg vs. 163 per patient treated with atorvastatin 10 mg.


CONCLUSIONS
Rosuvastatin has the same acquisition costs as and is more efficacious than atorvastatin in lowering LDL-C and treating patients to target LDL-C levels.
Hirsch
Mark
M
AstraZeneca, Wilmslow, UK. Mark.Hirsch@astrazeneca.com
O'donnell
John
J
Olsson
Anders
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009656:North America; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D011743:Pyrimidines; D011758:Pyrroles; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014280:Triglycerides; D000068718:Rosuvastatin Calcium; D000069059:Atorvastatin