[Cost-effectiveness of bisoprolol in chronic heart failure]

The cost-effectiveness of adding the beta blocker bisoprolol to standard treatment in patients with congestive heart failure was investigated, based on data from the Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study II (CIBIS II). The medical resource consumption from CIBIS II was combined with Swedish cost data for medication and hospitalisations. Costs of added years of life, i.e. consumption net of production, were also included in the analysis. The health effects were measured in terms of gained years of life. The results of the analysis show that the cost-effectiveness of bisoprolol compares favourably with that of other cardiovascular treatments. Without the inclusion of costs of added years of life, the cost-effectiveness was in the range of SEK 3,351-13,096 per gained year of life, and with the costs of added years of life included, the cost-effectiveness was in the range of SEK 137,533-147,278 per gained year of life.