Pharmacoeconomics of lipid-lowering drugs.

The widespread use and high cost of lipid-lowering drugs have resulted in numerous investigations of their cost effectiveness. Pharmacoeconomic analyses have considered initiation of treatment, maintenance therapy, and long-term outcomes of lipid-lowering therapy. Analyses have yielded a number of consistent messages, but the story continues to evolve as new trials, models, and drugs are introduced. Certain medications are more efficacious and associated with more cost-effective lipid-lowering therapy initiation. Other medications are lower priced and may be more cost effective for maintenance, contingent upon having achieved lipid-lowering goals. Finally, some medications have proven long-term cost effectiveness in trials and comparative cost effectiveness in models. Research is certain to further our understanding of the costs of lipid-lowering therapy and the methods needed to optimize expenditures.