Cost-Effectiveness Results from the US Carvedilol Heart Failure Trials Program

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of carvedilol, a β-blocker that is approved for use in the US for the treatment of heart failure, based on data from Phase III clinical trials.METHODS:We conducted an economic evaluation alongside the US Carvedilol Heart Failure Trials Program, which consisted of four concurrent, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials; the mean duration of follow-up across these four trials was 6.5 months (the program was terminated prematurely based on a finding of a 65% mortality benefit). Using data from these trials, we examined the cost-effectiveness of carvedilol in terms of the estimated cost per death averted among patients randomized to such therapy versus those receiving placebo. Attention was focused on the cost of carvedilol therapy plus the cost of cardiovascular-related inpatient care. Costs of care were estimated by combining information on healthcare utilization from the clinical trials with secondary sources of cost data.RESULTS:Patients r...