Statins' cost-effectiveness
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Role of statin cholesterol-lowering drugs will change if clinical trials of alternative interventions, such as folate supplementation, demonstrate cost-effective prevention benefits, Alan Garber, MD/PhD, Stanford University, says in an editorial in the May 16 Annals of Internal Medicine. Garber comments on two studies published in the Annals that found statin drugs were most cost-effective when used for secondary prevention. For primary prevention, costs of using statins in younger persons with few risk factors and no previous heart attack were high, the study authors conclude. Drug costs could be a factor considered by FDA's advisory committees in July as they discuss Mevacor and Pravachol for OTC use in individuals with no established cardiovascular disease or diabetes (1"The Tan Sheet" May 15, p. 3)