Pharmacoeconomic evaluation of the effects of atorvastatin on early recurrent ischemic events in acute coronary syndromes.

An economic analysis was conducted using clinical outcomes in the MIRACL trial that evaluated high-dose atorvastatin versus placebo for 16 weeks after acute coronary syndrome. The direct cost of atorvastatin was largely offset by the associated decrease in cardiovascular events. The net incremental cost of atorvastatin treatment was 157 dollars/patient with a cost-effectiveness ratio of 4,086 dollars/event avoided.