Economic evaluation of a fixed-dose combination (acetylsalicylic acid and rosuvastatin) in the cardiovascular context

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases pose a significant challenge to the society and healthcare systems, with serious implications in terms of mortality and healthcare expenditure. The treatment of cardiovascular diseases, based on acetylsalicylic acid combined with statins in multi-pill regimens, is characterized by a lower adherence rate among patients compared to the single-pill combination. A potential solution lies in single-pill formulations, drugs that combine two or more active ingredients at a fixed dosage within the same dosage unit. In order to assess the potential pharmacoeconomic impact of single-pill treatment, a budget impact model (BIM) was developed, considering the combination of 100 mg acetylsalicylic acid and 5 mg, 10 mg, or 20 mg rosuvastatin. The use of the single pill, according to the selected scenario, could result in savings in Italy compared to the use of multi-pill at 100%, ranging from € 951 201 in the case of using both single and multi-pill at 50%, to € 1 902 402 in the case of using the single pill exclusively. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results. The developed BIM allows observing the potential savings that single-pill treatment could generate, linked both to an increase in adherence rates and the consequent improvement in clinical outcomes for patients, as well as the lower cost of medications. The use of single pills represents a promising solution to enhance patient adherence and reduce costs in the management of cardiovascular diseases in Italy.