[Guidelines and costs]

Abstract

There is a growing interest in developing clinical guidelines which support the efficiency of medical care by weighting the potential benefits against the costs of interventions. In the recently developed Dutch guideline on reduction of serum cholesterol concentration a formal cost-effectiveness analysis is included. Based on epidemiological arguments a cost-effectiveness ratio of 40,000 Dutch guilders per life year gained was found. In comparison with other preventive health care programmes this amount was considered acceptable. In the past physicians have often taken costs into account in an implicit way when making clinical decisions. The results of the cost-effectiveness analysis vary particularly with the costs of the used statins. In the past physicians have often taken costs into account in an implicit way when making clinical decisions. However, in view of the increase in health care expenditures, it has become the responsibility of physicians to take costs into account more explicitly. Clinical guidelines with a cost-effectiveness analysis can be useful in helping physicians to provide efficient medical care.