Analysis of the budget impact for the Spanish National Health System of the fixed combination of amlodipine 5 or 10 mg and atorvastatin 10 mg

Objective

To carry out a Budget Impact Analysis (BIA) of the inclusion of the administration of the fixed combination (FC) of amlodipine 5 or 10 mg and atorvastatin 10 mg for approved indications in the Spanish National Health System (SNHS).

Material and methods

A BIA was carried out from the SNHS perspective for a 3-year period (2009–2011). A tree-type decision model was designed (patient tree), based on epidemiological data and scientific literature, in order to estimate the hypertensive population that could be treated with the FC. The total per annum BIA was calculated by attributing the retail price+VAT of the FC to the number of patients to be treated, and deducting the cost of the treatment for hypertension that was replaced and the updated average cost per patient of cardiovascular events (CVEs) prevented by the use of the FC by the SNHS during the period of study.

Results

The patient population likely to be treated with the FC was 51,104 patients (1st year), with a growth rate of 1%–2% over the following years, which means an annual cost (€) of 15.9 M (2009), 19.9 M (2010) and 24.1 M (2011), with a total of 60.0 M. The BIA was compensated showing negative impact values for the SNHS when the cost of replaced antihypertensive treatment and prevented CVEs was deducted, with savings of 69.9 M € over 3 years.

Conclusion

The BIA of a FC of atorvastatin and amlodipine shows that the use of this medication for approved indications could generate net savings for the SNHS of 9.9 M € for the period 2009–2011.