Table 1 Average costs, effects, and cost effectiveness of preventive treatments in a patient at 10% risk of a coronary event over five years

Absolute risk reduction per 5 years Discounted costs per 5 years* Treatment Relative risk with treatment (A) Adverse event rate per 5 years (B) Simple (C=10%x(1-A)-B) Discounted (D=Cx(discount factor)) Prescribing (E) Laboratory investigations (F) Follow up (G) Total (H=E+F+G) Cost per event prevented (I=H/D) Aspirin 75 mg 0.72 0.3% 2.5% 2.4% £19 £0 £65 £85 £3 500 Bendrofluazide 2.5 mg + atenolol 50 mg 0.83 0.0% 1.7% 1.7% £124 £19 £65 £208 £12 600 Bendrofluazide 2.5 mg, atenolol 50 mg, + enalapril 20 mg* 0.67 0.0% 3.3% 3.2% £497 £19 £65 £581 £18 300 Clopidogrel 75 mg 0.63 0.0% 3.7% 3.6% £2071 £0 £65 £2136 £60 100 Simvastatin 40 mg 0.69 0.0% 3.1% 3.0% £1744 £39 £65 £1848 £61 400

^* Costs have been discounted at 6% and benefits at 1.5% in accordance with NICE guidelines.