ECONOMIC-EVALUATION OF THE CARDIAC-INSUFFICIENCY BISOPROLOL STUDY FORTHE FEDERAL-REPUBLIC-OF-GERMANY

The Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study (CIBIS) demonstrates that, for patients with heart failure of different aetiologies, administrati on of the beta(1)-adrenoceptor blocker bisoprolol as an adjuvant to th e standard therapy leads to a significant avoidance of hospital admiss ions. A pharmacoeconomic analysis of the results of the CIBIS was cond ucted for the Federal Republic of Germany, and was restricted to direc t costs only. The costs of bisoprolol medication and inpatient treatme nt of heart failure were considered, the latter forming the major part of costs incurred. Per 1000 patient-years, adjuvant bisoprolol therap y resulted in overall cost savings of Deutschmarks (DM)157 272. Statut ory Health Insurance had a net saving of DM186 719 in 1000 patient-yea rs, while patients experienced additional net expenses of DM17 760 ove r 1000 patient-years. The economic advantage of adjuvant bisoprolol tr eatment was also borne out in the sensitivity analysis. Adjuvant thera py with bisoprolol was not only clinically beneficial for the patient with heart failure but was also economically advantageous.