Utility loss and indirect costs following cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients: the ASCOT health economic substudy

This study assessed the loss of utility and indirect costs associated with first cardiovascular events. Data was collected (using EQ-5D) prospectively at 3, 6, and 12 months following an event in the Swedish part of the Anglo—Scandinavian cardiac outcomes trial (ASCOT), including patients with mild to moderate hypertension and additional risk factors. Sixty patients were eligible for analysis. An event was associated with a one-year utility loss of 0.075 (95% CI: 0.038–0.114). For a stroke, the reduction was 0.145 (CI: 0.059–0.249) and for acute coronary syndromes (myocardial infarction or unstable angina) the loss was 0.051 (−0.003 to 0.103). The utility at baseline was no different to the utility in a control group. The indirect cost over the first 12 months (2003 Swedish Kronor, SEK) was 90028 SEK (CI: 46027–146754), 9866 € for patients in the workforce. These results are helpful in future economic evaluations of primary preventive measures in cardiovascular medicine.