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The pharmaco-economics of peri-operative beta-blocker and statin therapy in South Africa


BM Biccard
JW Sear
P Foex

Abstract

We conducted a pharmaco-economic analysis of the prospective  peri-operative  studies of beta-blocker and statin administration for major  elective non-cardiac surgery, using the Discovery Health claims costs for 2004. This analysis shows that acute peri-operative beta-blockade and statin  therapy could result in a cost saving through a reduction in major   perioperative cardiovascular complications in patients with an expected  peri-operative major cardiovascular complication rate exceeding 10% following elective major non-cardiac surgery. The validity of these findings is dependent on whether the incidence of cardiovascular complications following major  noncardiac surgery reported in the international literature is found to be similar in South Africa.

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eISSN: 2078-5135
print ISSN: 0256-9574