Policy implications of rationalization of statin use in Lithuania.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the trends and costs of statin use in Lithuania over a 3-year period and perform a cost-minimization and reference price analysis to rationalize the use of financial resources of the National Health Care System.


METHODS
The defined daily dose (DDD) methodology was applied for assessment of statin use, which was expressed in DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day. Cost minimization and reference price calculations were used in the economic analysis.


RESULTS
Over the 3-year period (2005-2007), the consumption and expenditures of statins in Lithuania doubled. The consumption went up from 3.87 DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day (in 2005) to 8.35 DDD/1,000 inhabitants/day (in 2007). Total expenses of statins increased during the same period from LTL6.186 million in 2005 to LTL12.418 million in 2007. Approximately 68 percent of the estimated costs for statins in 2007 were for atorvastatin. Provided that the calculated reference prices were fixed, the estimated savings would amount to a minimum of LTL1.371 million per year and could reach yearly savings in the order of LTL3.163 million. The total expenses would drop by at least 11 percent, and the decrease in costs could be as high as 25 percent (1 euro = LTL3.4528).


CONCLUSIONS
Statins consumption is still very low in Lithuania in comparison with other European Union countries. Implementation of cholesterol education programs and changing reimbursement profile for statins therapy will increase consumption and expenditures. The introduction of reference-based pricing as an indirect cost control policy would help rationalizing the use of statins and their expenditures.
Kadusevicius
Edmundas
E
Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Lithuania. e610614@yahoo.com
Jankauskiene
Danguole
D
Paulauskaite
Inga
I
Slapikas
Rimvydas
R
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008097:Lithuania; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics
D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors