ArticlePloS one2025
Determining cost-saving risk thresholds for statin use.
Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- The Role of Cardiovascular Risk Prediction Model Selection in Primary Prevention: An Observational Study of Statin Eligibility Agreement Across Nine Scores in a Lithuanian Primary-Prevention Cohort.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2026Observational
- Health-economic evaluation of statins versus lifestyle changes for cardiovascular disease prevention.PloS one · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
1 author.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundThe German government has recently drafted a bill proposing a reduction in the prescription threshold for statin use. This study aims to determine the cost-saving risk threshold for statin use in Germany to inform this proposed change.
methodsAn economic evaluation utilizing a decision-analytic model was performed, using secondary data to compare statin use versus no statin use from the perspective of German sickness fund insurees. The analysis focused on cost savings from avoided cardiovascular (CV) events, translating these avoided events into net savings after accounting for treatment costs and potential side effects. The study considered the German adult population insured by sickness funds and used a lifetime horizon for the analysis.
resultsThe maximum number needed to treat (NNT) to achieve cost savings over 10 years was found to be 39, leading to a minimum CV risk threshold for savings of 10.2%. It was estimated that approximately 19% of the adult population in Germany has a 10-year CV risk of ≥ 10.2%, potentially avoiding between 271,739 and 581,363 CV events over 10 years, with net population savings of approximately €15 billion.
conclusionsA threshold for statin prescription in Germany set at a 10.2% 10-year CV risk could significantly increase the number of patients benefiting from statin therapy, reducing CV events and generating substantial cost savings. These findings suggest that adjustments to prescription guidelines could improve cardiovascular outcomes and economic efficiency within the German healthcare system.
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