title: The pharmaco-economics of peri-operative beta-blocker and statin therapy in South Africa.
abstract: We conducted a pharmaco-economic analysis of the prospective peri-operative studies of beta-blocker and statin administration for major elective non-cardiac surgery, using the Discovery Health claims costs for 2004. This analysis shows that acute peri-operative beta-blockade and statin therapy could result in a cost saving through a reduction in major perioperative cardiovascular complications in patients with an expected peri-operative major cardiovascular complication rate exceeding 10% following elective major non-cardiac surgery. The validity of these findings is dependent on whether the incidence of cardiovascular complications following major noncardiac surgery reported in the international literature is found to be similar in South Africa.
authors.affiliation: Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, Oxford University, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Biccard
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Sear
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foëx
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000191:economics*; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors