[Cost-effectiveness analysis of prevention of reinfarction using low-dose acetylsalicylic acid; model calculation]

The purpose of this study is to estimate the potential of savings which can be achieved by prophylaxis of myocardial reinfarction with low-dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) at 75 mg per day over a treatment period of two years. After secondary analysis of published data, the effectiveness of low-dose ASA is compared to placebo by a model calculation. The difference in the effectiveness between the prophylaxis with ASA and placebo is taken from an international meta-analysis. The economic valuation of this difference is carried out by a cost-effectiveness analysis applying disease costs per case. According to the model calculation, 5535 DM can be saved per patient with a history of myocardial infarction with 75 mg ASA a day over a treatment period of two years. In 1991 there were around 740,000 patients with a history of myocardial infarction in the age group of 25-64 in the Old Bundesländer of the Federal Republic of Germany. The application of the results of the model calculation would lead to considerable savings. Even in the sensitivity analysis with different assumptions regarding costs incurred by hospital treatment and costs incurred by premature retirement, the cost advantage of the ASA-prophylaxis remains. Due to the cautious and conservative assumptions in the model calculation the potential of savings is likely underestimated. Nevertheless, there is a distinct advantage for the prophylaxis with low-dose ASA which already occurs in direct costs thus leading to advantages also for cost carriers.