Michael Pignone, MD, MPH

We performed a cost-utility analysis comparing treatment with aspirin, statins, and the combination of aspirin and statins among middle-aged men with no previous history of cardiovascular disease and with different underlying coronary artery disease (CAD) risk levels. Results showed that for men with a 10-year risk of CAD of 7.5% or higher, treatment with aspirin cost less and was more beneficial than no treatment. When the patient's 10-year risk of CAD before treatment was greater than 10%, adding a statin to aspirin treatment was cost effective.