Cost-effectiveness of cardiovascular prevention programs in Spain.

Individual programs for prevention of cardiovascular disease include dietary and drug treatment of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension treatment, and smoking cessation therapies. In this study, the cost-effectiveness of available cardiovascular prevention programs was assessed in Spain in terms of net cost per life-year gained (LYG). Cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from US $2,600 to $80,000 per LYG in men and from $4,500 to $230,000 per LYG in women. In men aged 40-59 years, the ranking of increasing cost-effectiveness was: smoking cessation ($2,608-3,738 per LYG); treatment of moderate and severe hypertension ($8,564-38,678 per LYG); treatment of mild hypertension ($11,906-59,840 per LYG); dietary treatment ($16,143-20,158 per LYG); and drug treatment of hypercholesterolemia ($33,850-81,010 per LYG). In women, the ranking list was:smoking cessation ($4,482-5,756 per LYG), treatment of moderate and severe hypertension ($9,585-57,983 per LYG), treatment of mild hypertension ($15,248-86,075 per LYG), dietary treatment ($57,175-62,154 per LYG); and drug treatment of hypercholesterolemia ($104,100-259,150 per LYG).