The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7179 p873-877
22-29 December 2001

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Cost analysis supports ramipril use

Treating patients who have diabetes and who are at high risk of cardiovascular events with ramipril (Tritace) is likely to be a good investment of National Health Service resources, an analysis has found.

The evaluation of the MICRO-HOPE study used a decision-analytic modelling approach to consider the cost-effectiveness of adding ramipril 10mg daily to conventional treatment in patients with diabetes at increased risk for cardiovascular events. The analysis estimated a cost per life-year saved of £2,791. Best and worst case estimates were £1,954 and £2,964, respectively.

The authors conclude: "We believe the analysis demonstrates the potential cost-effectiveness of additional ramipril treatment for patients at high risk for cardiovascular events due to diabetes." They note that the National Institute for Clinical Excellence recently gave a positive recommendation based on a cost-effectiveness value of £23,500 per life-year gained. "If values in this range are regarded to be acceptable, then ramipril is likely to be regarded as a cost-effective use of NHS resources," they conclude (Journal of Medical Economics 2001;4:199).

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