Study Examines Continued Economic Burden of Acute Coronary Syndrome Despite Standard Medical Interventions

INDIANAPOLIS and TOKYO, April 6  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Acute coronary syndrome (ACS), one of the most common illnesses in the United States, is a major contributor to the overall economic burden of cardiovascular disease, estimated at $403.1 billion in 2006.(1)  Despite major advances in the treatment of ACS, a new study of 15,508 patients demonstrates that new and recurrent cases remain significant drivers of hospital, medical and pharmacy costs.

Total costs for newly diagnosed patients with ACS were $14,274, while costs for patients with recurrent ACS were $12,899, according to a study presented at the 18th annual meeting of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy in Seattle.

"This study illustrates that ACS continues to impose a significant financial burden on the healthcare system, even after an acute event occurs," said one of the study investigators, Patrick McCollam, Pharm.D., Research Scientist, Eli Lilly and Company.  "Although patients' first cardiac events incurred the highest costs, recurrence of events contributed significantly to healthcare utilization."

Acute coronary syndrome, a condition that includes heart attacks and heart-related chest pain (unstable angina), affects more than 879,000 Americans each year.(1)  Despite treatment guidelines, data indicates underutilization of heart medications in ACS patients.  When antiplatelet therapy is used, future cardiac events are significantly reduced, but recent studies have shown that up to a third of patients are not responding adequately, or not responding at all, to their current antiplatelet therapy.(2)

"Acute coronary syndrome is far too costly, not only for the health care system but also for the patients who bear the brunt of this disabling illness," said J. Anthony Ware, M.D., vice president, Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company.  "Survivors of heart disease often notice diminished quality of life, compromised functional abilities, and loss of productivity.  Improving the management of ACS is critical so fewer people face these devastating consequences."

About the Data

In the retrospective study, "Burden of Illness for Patients with New and Recurrent Acute Coronary Syndrome," 15,508 ACS patients with a primary diagnosis of unstable angina or heart attack were identified at a large U.S. managed care organization.  Patient claims were examined the year before, and up to a year after, the first diagnosis, called the "index event." Hospitalizations, revascularizations, and overall costs for new (no previous ACS diagnosis) and recurrent (previous evidence of ACS) patients were compared and analyzed.

Of the 15,508 identified patients, 82 percent were new ACS patients and 18 percent were recurrent ACS patients.  Newly diagnosed patients with ACS were more likely to have a heart attack and be hospitalized for the index event, leading to higher overall index event costs versus the recurrent group ($14,274 versus $12,899).

Patients with recurrent events, however, were rehospitalized more frequently during follow-up (0.817 episodes per patient versus 0.57 episodes per patient), stayed in the hospital significantly longer than new onset patients (mean of 7.2 days versus 6.1 days) and were more likely to undergo revascularization procedures during follow up (20.4% versus 16.9%).  In addition, recurrent patients had more physician office visits (mean of 22.09 versus 17.86) and ER visits (mean of 2.33 versus 2.14), and higher laboratory utilization during follow up (mean of 7.41 versus 6.40).  It is important to note that the recurrent patients were older (average age 59) than new patients, and comorbidities were more prevalent in recurrent patients, thereby increasing the risk of medical complications and corresponding healthcare utilization.

"Despite substantial progress in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, it still accounts for one out of three fatalities," said Francis Plat, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development - Cardiovascular, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.  "Consequently, researchers are focusing on developing new therapies to ultimately improve health outcomes for patients."

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and worldwide, killing 17 million people each year.(3) Despite current medical interventions, 300,000 people experience recurrent heart attacks and 500,000 people die from heart attacks annually in the U.S.(1)  Heart attacks are the leading single cause of death among types of ACS.  Unstable angina occurs in approximately 6 out of every 10,000 people, affecting 124,000 patients each year.(3)

About Lilly

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations.  Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs.  Additional information is available at http://www.lilly.com/.

P-LLY

About Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited

Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited was established on Sept. 28, 2005, as the joint holding company of two major Japanese pharmaceutical companies - Sankyo Co., Ltd., and Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.  Daiichi Sanyko is a global pharmaceutical innovator, continuously generating innovative drugs and services and maximizing its corporate value.  Sankyo and Daiichi Pharmaceutical have a broad range of major drug products on the Japanese market, including the antihypertensive Benicar(R) (olmesartan medoxomil) and the synthetic antibacterial agent Cravit(R) (levofloxacin). Both companies have used their cumulative knowledge and expertise in the field of cardiovascular disease as a foundation for developing an abundant product lineup and R&D pipeline. For further details, please refer to the company Web site at http://www.daiichisankyo.co.jp/eng/.

References:

(1) American Heart Association.  Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics - Update 2006.

(2) Muller, I., Besta, F., Schulz, C., Massberg, S., Schonig, A., and Gawaz, M. Prevalence of clopidogrel non-responders among patients with stable angina pectoris scheduled for elective coronary stent placement.   Thromb Haemost 2003; 89: 783-787

(3) World Health Organization.  The Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke - Types of Cardiovascular Disease 2005.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060314/LILLYSANKYOLOGO ) 

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060314/LILLYSANKYOLOGO

DATASOURCE: Eli Lilly and Company



CONTACT:  Janice Chavers of Eli Lilly and Company, [phone], cell:

[phone], pager: [phone]; Jo-ann Straat, Daiichi Sankyo (New

Jersey), [phone], or Shigemichi Kondo, Daiichi Sankyo (Tokyo),

81-3-6225-1126

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