Cost effectiveness of statin therapy for the primary prevention of coronary heart disease.

Cholesterol lowering statin therapy accounted for over 10% of total drug acquisition costs (87.5 million euros) under the Community Drugs Schemes in Ireland in 2004. Not surprisingly, the issue of value for money and cost effectiveness arises. Whilst statin therapy has proven cost effective in patients with established cardiovascular disease this is the first economic evaluation of statin therapy for primary prevention in the Irish healthcare setting. Using economic modelling techniques the incremental cost effectiveness of statin therapy in high risk individuals i.e. 10 year risk exceeding 15% ranged from 17,900 euros per life year gained (LYG) to 33,800 euros/LYG under the GMS scheme. Corresponding figures for the Drug Payment scheme were 24,500 euros/ LYG to 48,500 euros/LYG. All the statins could be considered cost effective i.e. threshold below 50,000 euros/LYG however atorvastatin proved the most cost effective statin in this pharmacoeconomic study.