| Impact of restricted reimbursement on the use of statins in Finland: a register-based study. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 20706164 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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OBJECTIVES: New and expensive medicines are a driving force behind growth in medicine costs, and policies promoting use of less expensive products have been widely introduced. This study investigated the short-term consequences of the restricted reimbursement of expensive statins (atorvastatin and rosuvastatin) on the use of statins in Finland. METHODS: Data on patients purchasing atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, or simvastatin in 2002-2007 were retrieved from the nationwide Prescription Register. Outcome measures included the time trend in the numbers of purchasers and initiators of different statins, the morbidities of new users before and after the new policy, and the proportion of users of expensive statins switching to other statins. RESULTS: After the restriction, the numbers of purchasers of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin dropped, and atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were seldom prescribed as first-line therapy. Before the restriction, 20.9% of new users of atorvastatin and 18.4% of those of rosuvastatin had either coronary artery disease or familial hyperlipidemia. After the restriction the corresponding figures were 28.7% and 26.8%. After the restriction new users of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin were also more likely to use other cardiovascular medicines or antidiabetics or to have previous statin purchases. A total of 57.6% of those using atorvastatin and 49.2% of those using rosuvastatin before the restriction switched to a less expensive statin. CONCLUSIONS: Restricted reimbursement of expensive statins decreased their use. It seems that after the policy new statin treatments have channeled appropriately. Although it is likely that the cost-containment aim of the policy was reached, health and long-term effects are not known. |
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Authors:
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Jaana E Martikainen; Leena K Saastamoinen; Maarit J Korhonen; Hannes Enlund; Arja Helin-Salmivaara |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Medical care Volume: 48 ISSN: 1537-1948 ISO Abbreviation: Med Care Publication Date: 2010 Sep |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2010-08-18 Completed Date: 2010-09-13 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0230027 Medline TA: Med Care Country: United States |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 761-6 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Research Department, The Social Insurance Institution, Helsinki, Finland. jaana.martikainen@kela.fi |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Female Finland Fluorobenzenes / economics*, therapeutic use Health Policy* Heptanoic Acids / economics*, therapeutic use Humans Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / economics*, therapeutic use Male Middle Aged National Health Programs Physician's Practice Patterns / statistics & numerical data* Pyrimidines / economics*, therapeutic use Pyrroles / economics*, therapeutic use Registries* Reimbursement Mechanisms / legislation & jurisprudence, organization & administration* Sulfonamides / economics*, therapeutic use |
| Chemical | |
Reg. No./Substance:
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0/Fluorobenzenes; 0/Heptanoic Acids; 0/Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; 0/Pyrimidines; 0/Pyrroles; 0/Sulfonamides; 110862-48-1/atorvastatin; 287714-41-4/rosuvastatin |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
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