Cost-effectiveness of stroke prevention

Stroke is a preventable disease and there are several interventions that might have an important role in reducing the burden of disease. Economic appraisal of these different interventions is essential as resources are scarce and it is logical to attempt to obtain the greatest reduction in disease for the lowest cost. Anticoagulation for non-rheumatic atrial fibrillation is highly effective, but is expensive and cost-effectiveness analyses show that use of aspirin alone would prevent almost as many strokes at much lower cost. Antiplatelet drugs are both effective and inexpensive and their use in secondary prevention would potentially save the NHS about pound 900 per life year gained. Carotid endarterectomy and the associated screening costs are poor value for money but recent attempts to use predictive models to determine which patients will benefit from surgery may improve its cost-effectiveness. Current evidence is dominated by pharmacological interventions and much less good evidence is available for life-style modifications such as dietary change and physical exercise. Modification of major cardiovascular risk factors (blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and smoking) is very cost-effective but needs to be better targeted if potential health gain is to be realised.