Measuring Costs of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention for Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia in...

Area of Science:

• Pharmacoeconomics
• Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
• Genetic Lipid Disorders

Background:

• Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a prevalent genetic disorder significantly increasing cardiovascular event risk.
• FH is a prime candidate for population-wide screening, yet cost data for interventions is scarce.
• Accurate real-world cost estimates are vital for economic analyses of FH screening and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the real-world costs of lipid panel testing for hyperlipidemia.
• To determine the costs of statins, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors for familial hypercholesterolemia treatment.
• To provide data for improving cost-effectiveness models of FH screening and care.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a commercial claims database to analyze costs.
• Calculated costs per lipid panel and per prescription by days' supply.
• Focused on patients with hyperlipidemia and familial hypercholesterolemia.

Main Results:

• Mean cost for a 90-day statin supply was $183.33, over double the 30-day supply cost ($79.35).
• PCSK9 inhibitors represented the highest mean medication costs for FH patients.
• Lipid testing and lipid-lowering therapies incur substantial real-world expenditures.

Conclusions:

• Lipid testing and medications for cardiovascular disease prevention in FH are associated with significant real-world costs.
• These cost data are essential for refining economic models of FH screening and management.
• Improved cost-effectiveness analyses can guide resource allocation for FH care.