Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 28, 2026

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles
09:15

Differential Effects of Lipid-lowering Drugs in Modulating Morphology of Cholesterol Particles

Published on: November 10, 2017

Cost-effectiveness of optimizing use of statins in Australia: using outpatient data from the REACH Registry

Zanfina Ademi1, Christopher M Reid, Bruce Hollingsworth

  • 1Melbourne EpiCentre, Department of Medicine (RMH), University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia. zademi@unimelb.edu.au

Clinical Therapeutics
|October 11, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Maximizing statin coverage for coronary artery disease (CAD) secondary prevention in Australia is cost-effective. Closing the treatment gap with generic statins offers significant health benefits at an incremental cost of $29,717 per life-year gained.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Disease Research
  • Health Economics
  • Pharmacotherapy Efficacy

Background:

  • Cost-effectiveness data for cardiovascular disease interventions are scarce.
  • Population-based registries offer realistic insights into clinical practice and long-term outcomes.
  • Effective management of cardiovascular disease necessitates understanding intervention costs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the cost-effectiveness of increasing statin use in secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD) in Australia.
  • To quantify the economic benefits of closing the statin treatment gap.

Main Methods:

  • A Markov decision analysis model with yearly cycles was employed.
  • Data from the Australian Reduction of Atherothrombosis for Continued Health Registry informed the model.
  • The model compared current (82%) versus 100% statin coverage for CAD secondary prevention.

Main Results:

  • Increasing statin coverage by 18% with generic statins yielded 0.018 discounted life-years gained per person over 5 years.
  • The incremental cost was $546 discounted per person.
  • The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $29,717 per life-year gained.

Conclusions:

  • Maximizing statin coverage for CAD patients is a cost-effective secondary prevention strategy.
  • Adherence to evidence-based statin recommendations improves patient outcomes.
  • Closing the statin treatment gap enhances cardiovascular disease management.
Abstract

Related Concept Videos

Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents01:20

Lipid-Lowering Drugs: Statins and Miscellaneous Agents

Hyperlipidemia, a medical condition often referred to as high cholesterol, is characterized by abnormally elevated levels of lipids in the bloodstream. When present in excess, these lipids, specifically cholesterol and triglycerides, can lead to serious health complications, often involving cardiovascular diseases. Illnesses like atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and pancreatitis have all been linked to untreated hyperlipidemia. This means controlling and regulating cholesterol and triglyceride...
Atherosclerosis III: Management01:26

Atherosclerosis III: Management

Management of atherosclerosis involves an integrated strategy encompassing pharmacological treatment, surgical interventions, lifestyle changes, and nutrition therapy to address the multifactorial nature of the disease.Pharmacological TherapyA cornerstone of atherosclerosis management is the use of pharmacological agents. Statins, such as atorvastatin, are pivotal in inhibiting HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme that catalyzes an initial step in cholesterol synthesis in the liver. This reduction in...
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast, controlled...
Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets01:29

Pharmacogenomics: Identification of New Drug Targets

Advances in genomics have profoundly influenced drug discovery by increasing both the speed and accuracy of pharmaceutical development. Pharmacogenomics, which examines how genetic variation influences drug response, facilitates the identification of novel therapeutic targets and enables patient stratification for personalized treatment. These strategies contribute to improved drug efficacy, minimized adverse effects, and more efficient clinical trial design.Mapping genetic differences...
Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures01:26

Coronary Artery Disease IV: Preventive Measures

Effective preventive measures for coronary artery disease (CAD) focus on controlling modifiable risk factors, including cholesterol abnormalities and lifestyle changes.Cholesterol ManagementFirst, the Mediterranean diet and the American Heart Association advocate for maintaining low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels below 100 mg/dL, with a more stringent recommendation of below 70 mg/dL for individuals at high risk. LDL cholesterol, often termed "bad cholesterol," can lead to the...
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients01:21

Drug Dosing: Obese Patients

In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...