Statins: A comparison between predicted and actual effects on population health in Austria - Part II + III

Research areas: Prevention and screening, Health economics

Duration: 2006-2008

Part II: Statins for the Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases: An Analysis of Expected Population Health Gains and Cost-Utility in Austria

Part III: Have Statins Met Our Expectations? A Comparison of Expected Health Gains from Statins with Epidemiological Trends in Austria

Research question/objective
Since the 1990s statins have been increasingly applied for the prevention of cardio-vascular diseases. In clinical studies they have been shown to be effective. Compared to placebos, a relative risk reduction with respect to mortality and morbidity has been demonstrated. Apart from the clinical benefit, it has been expected that the use of statins will reduce the number of cardio-vascular interventions (such as coronary artery bypass grafting) and thus will result in decreasing hospitalisation. This should eventually guarantee favourable cost-effectiveness results. The question to be answered is whether there is empirical evidence to support this hypothesis, not only on the basis of clinical studies but under real conditions of use in Austria.

Method
In part 1 of the project a systematic review of economic evaluations which addressed statin therapy for the secondary prevention of cardio-vascular diseases was carried out. The results can be downloaded from . In part 2 a decision analysis model which was developed for the UK will be adapted with Austrian utilisation and cost data.

Content
- Conducting a workshop and adapting the UK model in cooperation with the University of Sheffield and with the Federation of Austrian Social Security Institutions
- Based on the results, in part 3 of the project the impact of statin therapy on actual hospital interventions in Austria will be analysed empirically.

Publications
Part II: HTA-Project Report 18 
Part III: HTA-Project Report 19

Contact: Ingrid Zechmeister