Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, and simvastatin among high-risk patients in usual clinical practice.

BACKGROUND

Assessments of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of treatment with statins in high risk patients in routine clinical practice are needed. The objective of the present study was to estimate the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of rosuvastatin compared with atorvastatin or simvastatin among high-risk patients as treated in routine clinical practice.

METHODS

Patients aged 18 to 79 years with coronary heart disease (CHD) or equivalent who initiated treatment with atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, or simvastatin were included. Primary outcome variables were the percent reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), achievement of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) LDL-C goal, treatment costs, and cost-effectiveness. Regression models were used to adjust outcome measures for age, sex, CHD, baseline LDL-C, and therapy duration. A decision analytic model was used to assess incremental cost-effectiveness.

RESULTS

Of the 775 eligible patients, rosuvastatin patients had higher baseline LDL-C levels (156 mg/dL vs 142 mg/dL or 137 mg/dL, respectively) compared with atorvastatin or simvastatin. Adjusted for baseline factors, percent LDL-C reduction was significantly greater with rosuvastatin versus atorvastatin or simvastatin (37% vs 28% or 27%, respectively; P <.05). The estimated percentage of patients attaining NCEP ATP III goal was higher (P <.05) for rosuvastatin (69.7%) compared with atorvastatin (54.8%) or simvastatin (51.2%), adjusted for baseline characteristics. Rosuvastatin patients also had the lowest annualized treatment costs (934dollars vs 1050 dollars or 1545 dollars for atorvastatin or simvastatin). Rosuvastatin was more effective and less costly than atorvastatin and at current branded and generic prices of simvastatin. A 60% to 68% discount from simvastatin branded price was needed to achieve equivalent cost-effectiveness as rosuvastatin.

CONCLUSIONS

In clinical practice, rosuvastatin is more effective and cost-effective in lowering LDL-C and in attainment of ATP III LDL-C goals compared with atorvastatin or simvastatin among high-risk patients.