| Autor: |
Nyman, John A., Martinson, Melissa S., Nelson, David, Nugent, Sean, Collins, Dorothea, Wittes, Janet, Fye, Carol L., Wilt, Timothy J., Robins, Sander J., Bloomfield Rubins, Hanna |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
Archives of Internal Medicine; 1/28/2002, Vol. 162 Issue 2, p177, 6p |
| Abstrakt: |
Background: Although numerous clinical trials and economic analyses have established the efficacy and costeffectiveness of lowering cholesterol for the prevention of coronary heart disease, there are few data on the role of raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and lowering triglyceride levels. The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Cooperative Studies Program HDL-C Intervention Trial (VA-HIT) was a multicenter, randomized trial of gemfibrozil, an agent that raised HDL-C levels and lowered triglyceride levels, yet had no effect on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The study showed that gemfibrozil therapy significantly reduced major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and stroke) in patients with coronary heart disease, low HDL-C levels, and low LDL-C levels. Objective: To report the results of a cost-effectiveness study based on the results of the VA-HIT. Methods: The cost per year of life gained with gemfibrozil therapy was calculated. Hazard functions were estimated, and the resulting probabilities were used in a Markov model simulation to estimate the effect of gemfibrozil on life expectancy and costs over a simulated lifetime. Sensitivity analyses were used to account for uncertainty. Results: Using the prices of gemfibrozil that were negotiated by the VA, gemfibrozil was cost saving. Using drug prices found outside the VA, a quality-adjusted lifeyear saved by gemfibrozil therapy cost between $6300 and $17100. Conclusions: Gemfibrozil reduces major cardiovascular events in male coronary heart disease patients with low levels of HDL-C and low levels of LDL-C and would result in cost saving at annual drug costs of $100 or less in 1998 dollars. Even at the higher drug prices represented by the average wholesale price in the United States, the cost of a life-year saved is well below the threshold that would be deemed cost-effective. To our knowledge, this is the first economic analysis... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Databáze: |
Complementary Index |
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