Cost-effectiveness analysis of ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome in Colombia / Análisis de costo-efectividad del ticagrelor en comparación con el clopidogrel para el tratamiento de pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo en Colombia

Introduction: Acute coronary syndrome is one of the most frequent medical emergencies in developing countries. Objective: To determine, from the perspective of the Colombian health system, the cost-effectiveness of ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome. Materials and methods: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis from the perspective of the Colombian health system comparing ticagrelor and clopidogrel for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome. To estimate the expected costs and outcomes, a Markov model was constructed in which patients could remain stable without experiencing new cardiovascular events, suffer from a new event, or die. For the baseline case, a 10-year time horizon and a discount ratio of 3% for costs and benefits were adopted. The transition probabilities were extracted from the PLATO (Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes) clinical trial. Vital statistics were drawn from the Departmento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) and additional information from Colombian patients included in the Access registry. To identify and measure resource use, a standard case was built by consulting guidelines and protocols. Unit costs were obtained from Colombian rate lists. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted in which costs were represented by a triangular distribution, and the effectiveness through a beta distribution. Results: In the base case, the additional cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained with ticagrelor was COP$ 28,411,503. The results were sensitive to changes in the time horizon and the unit cost of clopidogrel. For a willingness-to-pay equivalent to three times the Colombian per capita gross domestic product, the probability of ticagrelor being cost-effective was 75%. Conclusions: Ticagrelor is a cost-effective strategy for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome in Colombia.

Introducción. El síndrome coronario agudo es una de las emergencias médicas más frecuentes en los países en desarrollo. Objetivo. Determinar, desde la perspectiva del sistema de salud colombiano, la relación de costo-efectividad del ticagrelor comparado con el clopidogrel para el tratamiento de pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un análisis de costo-efectividad desde la perspectiva del sistema de salud colombiano, comparando el ticagrelor y el clopidogrel para el tratamiento de pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo. Para estimar los costos y resultados esperados de las dos alternativas, se construyó un modelo de Markov en el cual los pacientes podían permanecer estables sin experimentar nuevos eventos cardiovasculares, sufrir de un nuevo evento coronario o morir. Para el caso de base, se adoptó un horizonte temporal de 10 años y una tasa de descuento de 3 % para los costos y beneficios. Las probabilidades de transición se extrajeron del estudio Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes , PLATO. Las estadísticas vitales se consultaron en informes del Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) y los parámetros adicionales del modelo se basaron en la información de los pacientes colombianos incluidos en el registro en Access. Para identificar y medir el uso de recursos, se construyó un caso estándar a partir de guías y protocolos. Los costos unitarios se obtuvieron de manuales tarifarios colombianos. Se hizo un análisis de sensibilidad probabilístico en el que los costos se representaron por una distribución triangular y, las probabilidades de transición, mediante una distribución beta. Resultados. En el caso de base, el costo adicional por años de vida ajustados por calidad ganados con el ticagrelor fue de COP$ 28´411.503. Los resultados fueron sensibles a los cambios en el horizonte temporal y al costo unitario del clopidogrel. Para un umbral de costo-efectividad equivalente a tres veces el producto interno bruto per cápita de Colombia, la probabilidad de que el ticagrelor fuera costo-efectivo fue de 75 %. Conclusiones. El ticagrelor es una estrategia costo-efectiva para el tratamiento de los pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo en Colombia.

Reducing the risk: heart disease, stroke and aspirin.

Aspirin used in cardiovascular disease is probably the best evaluated and the most highly cost effective prophylactic available in clinical practice today. It has been evaluated in over 150 randomised controlled trials and a small daily dose of around 100 mg has been shown to reduce the risk of myocardial infarction and stroke by about 30 per cent. The saving of lives and prevention of vascular events in patients judged to be at increased risk of a vascular event for any reason is large. In healthy subjects, however, the risk of a vascular event is so low that prophylaxis by any drug is inappropriate. The earlier aspirin is given in the acute phase of a myocardial infarction the greater the saving of lives. Patients judged to be at increased risk of a vascular event, for any reason, should therefore be advised to carry aspirin and to chew and swallow one or two tablets immediately, if they experience sudden severe chest pain. Aspirin is derived from a salicylate, and salicylates are widely distributed in nature, with many functions in plants. Its use in cardiovascular disease derives from an effect on blood platelets, but other possible effects have led to suggestions that it may be of benefit in conditions other than heart disease and stroke. Current research is now focussing on the possible reduction by aspirin in the risk of dementia, certain cancers, retarded foetal growth and cataract.