Pharmaco-economical basis for the use of lipid lowering drugs

The paper of based of results of pharmaco-economical analysis conducted in several European; countries with the aim of determination of cost-efficacy of lipid lowering with statins. Clinical value of drugs used un these analyses was documented in multicenter clinical trials and studies in which dynamics of atherosclerotic plaques was assessed by repeat quantitative angiography. It was established that optimization of distribution of financial resources should imply selection of a statin and its dose taking into consideration the degree of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering necessary in a given patient. The coefficient of cost-efficacy of lipid lowering with drugs was found to be considerably lower for secondary prevention of coronary complications than for primary prevention of coronary heart disease. However primary prevention started in younger ages in subjects with definite level of absolute risk might become most rational approach to preventive therapy of cardiovascular diseases in the future.