Australian heart attack patients to have earlier therapy
Australians who suffer a heart attack will now have immediate access to a therapy that has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of a secondary heart attack, stroke or death.1
Sanofi-aventis and Bristol-Myers Squibb announced the listing of clopidogrel (marketed as Plavix® and Iscover®) on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the treatment of Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS), from 1 February 2009.
This new PBS listing means all Australians who suffer a heart attack will now have immediate access to clopidogrel. Previously, patients may have had to suffer and survive a second heart attack before they were eligible to receive the treatment through the PBS.
Professor Phillip Aylward, from Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide said it’s a win-win situation for both patients and the Australian health system.
“Patients with ACS are at high risk of experiencing recurrent heart-related events, such as repeat heart attacks, stroke or even death. Providing patients with access to clopidogrel through the PBS after their first heart attack is in line with national clinical guidelines, and the worldwide gold standard treatment,” he said.
“This PBS listing will also lessen the burden on the nation’s health and hospital system by reducing hospitalisations for secondary ACS events.”
ACS, including heart attacks and unstable angina, are serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms of coronary heart disease which affect over 360,000 people in Australia.2
Despite improvements over the last few decades, the health and economic burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) exceeds that of any other disease. In 2004, the direct health system cost of CVD, including heart attack and stroke, was $7.6 billion or 11% of total health spending.3
In addition to improved health outcomes for patients, this listing also has the potential to deliver cost savings for Australian hospitals by reducing the number of hospitalisations.
References:
1 CURE trial, NEJM, 2001
2 Australian Bureau of Statistics (Trewin D). 2000. Population Projections Australia 1999-2101. ABS Catalogue No. 3222.0; Australian Bureau of Statistics (Palmer J). 2006. Population Projections Australia 2004-2101 (reissue). ABS Catalogue No. 3222.0; and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2006. Australia’s Health 2006. The tenth biennial health report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Canberra: AIHW, 2006. (AIHW Catalogue No. AUS 73).
3 Access Economics and Heart Foundation (2005) The shifting burden of cardiovascular disease in Australia AU.CLO.08.12.027
