Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease
06:16

Signal Acquisition, Score Interpretation, and Economics of a Non-Invasive Point-of-Care Test for Coronary Artery Disease

Published on: August 9, 2024

Cost-effectiveness of clopidogrel in acute coronary syndromes in Sweden: a long-term model based on the CURE trial

P Lindgren1, B Jönsson, S Yusuf

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. peter.lindgren@imm.ki.se

Journal of Internal Medicine
|April 14, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Clopidogrel added to standard therapy, including aspirin (ASA), is a cost-effective treatment for acute coronary syndromes in Sweden. This strategy offers favorable outcomes compared to other cardiovascular interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Health Economics
  • Pharmacoeconomics

Background:

  • Acute coronary syndromes (ACS) without ST-segment elevation require effective and economically viable treatment strategies.
  • Standard therapy for ACS often includes aspirin (ASA), but additional antiplatelet agents may improve outcomes.
  • Evaluating the long-term cost-effectiveness of pharmacological interventions is crucial for healthcare resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the long-term cost-effectiveness of clopidogrel in addition to standard therapy (including ASA) for patients with ACS without ST-segment elevation in Sweden.
  • To compare the economic value of clopidogrel-based therapy against alternative cardiovascular prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

  • A Markov model was utilized to estimate incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).
  • Transition probabilities were derived from Swedish hospital discharge and cause of death registers.
  • Treatment effects and costs were informed by the Clopidogrel in Unstable Angina to prevent Recurrent ischaemic Events (CURE) Trial.

Main Results:

  • In a scenario mirroring the CURE trial population, the ICER was 1365 euro per life-year gained from a healthcare payer perspective.
  • From a societal perspective, this scenario indicated cost savings (-54 euro net total cost).
  • In a scenario based on Swedish register data, the ICER was 1009 euro per life-year gained for both healthcare payer and societal perspectives.

Conclusions:

  • Adding clopidogrel to standard therapy (including ASA) is a cost-effective strategy for managing ACS without ST-segment elevation in the Swedish healthcare setting.
  • This treatment approach demonstrates favorable cost-effectiveness when compared to other established cardiovascular treatment and prevention strategies.
  • The findings support the integration of clopidogrel into standard care for this patient population to optimize both clinical outcomes and resource utilization.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care01:27

Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is characterized by narrowed arteries that diminish blood flow to the extremities. Effective management of PAD requires an interprofessional approach involving various healthcare professionals. The critical aspects of interprofessional care for PAD patients focus on risk factor modification, drug therapy, exercise therapy, nutrition therapy, critical limb ischemia care, and interventional radiology and surgical procedures.The primary treatment goal for PAD...
Impact of Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Models: Regulatory Decisions01:15

Impact of Pharmacokinetic–Pharmacodynamic Models: Regulatory Decisions

PK–PD modeling has significantly influenced FDA regulatory decisions, particularly drug approval, dosage optimization, and labeling. These models integrate pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) to predict drug behavior and effects, aiding in optimizing dosing regimens and enhancing the probability of clinical trial success.One notable example is Nesiritide (Natrecor®), a recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide for treating acute decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF).
Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists01:23

Treatment for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Prostacyclin Receptor Agonists

Prostacyclin receptor agonists are a class of therapeutic agents integral to managing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). These drugs operate by mimicking the action of prostaglandin I2, or PGI2, a naturally occurring compound in the body.
These agonists bind to the IPR receptor situated on the plasma membrane of the pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This binding triggers a cascade of reactions known as the GS-AC-cAMP-PKA pathway. This pathway results in the relaxation of smooth muscle...
Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins01:30

Anticoagulant Drugs: Low-Molecular-Weight Heparins

Hemostasis is a crucial process that prevents excessive blood loss from damaged blood vessels. It involves various mechanisms such as vasoconstriction, platelet adhesion and activation, and fibrin formation. The importance of each mechanism depends on the type of vessel injury. In contrast, thrombosis is the abnormal formation of a blood clot within the blood vessels, leading to potential complications if the clot obstructs blood flow. Thrombosis can be caused by increased coagulability of the...