Quantifying Patient Preferences About Features of Nonstatin Lipid-Lowering Therapies: A Discrete Choice Experiment in the United States.

Background: Despite the growing number of nonstatin lipid-lowering treatments (NS-LLTs), data are lacking on how patients value their various features and outcomes. Study objectives were to quantify patients' preferences across levels of efficacy, treatment regimens, side effects, and out-of-pocket costs of NS-LLTs and compare approaches with framing treatment efficacy.

Methods: A discrete choice experiment survey was administered to US adults aged ≥40 years with medical claims indicating statin use and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Each participant was administered 12 sets of experimentally designed pairs of add-on NS-LLT profiles that varied in efficacy, administration regimen, injection-site reaction, joint pain, out-of-pocket cost, and a no-additional treatment option. Random-parameter logit models were used to estimate preference weights, and tradeoffs across attributes were reported as willingness-to-pay estimates.

Results: A total of 1193 participants completed the survey (36% female; 90% White; mean age, 68.2±9.7 years). Across treatment features assessed, out-of-pocket cost ranging from $0 to $200 per month was the most important factor. All else being equal, a daily oral dosing regimen was the most preferred regimen. Among injectable regimens, participants preferred dosing every 6 months versus every 2 weeks (P<0.001) or every month (P<0.001). Efficacy presented as 25% to 60% reductions in LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol) levels was valued greater than equivalent reductions in 5-year cardiovascular risks. Among those reporting annual household incomes <$150 000 (93.5%), the average maximum willingness to pay for an add-on NS-LLT as a daily, oral medication without side effects ranged from $131 to $175 per month with efficacy framed as a 25% reduction in LDL-C levels versus $89 to $124 with efficacy framed as corresponding reductions in 5-year cardiovascular risk.

Conclusions: Among treatment features assessed, out-of-pocket costs were the primary factor driving choices. Those opting for an add-on NS-LLT were willing to trade off additional efficacy for less frequent injections or a daily oral medication.