OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of platelet inhibition with clopidogrel for patients (pts) with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes was demonstrated in CURE and PCI-CURE trials. The purpose of present analysis is to estimate the long-term cost-effectiveness of clopidogrel in Poland, using clinical outcomes and resource utilization from CURE and in PCI-CURE. Methods : Costs of hospitalizations and studied drugs were calculated based on resource utilization collected in case report form for all pts in CURE (clopidogrel, n=6259, placebo, n=6303) and in the subgroup of PCI-CURE pts (clopidogrel/n=1313, placebo/n=1345). Comedications were not included in the economic analyses as drug utilization was similar in clopidogrel and placebo group. Unit costs were calculated using drugs retail prices and medical procedures tariffs contracted by National Health Found. Because of lack of sufficient Polish epidemiological data two different sources (Framingham and Saskatchewan databases) were used to evaluate the lost life expectancy associated with death, MI and stroke. A discount rate of 3% was applied. Results are expressed in cost per Life Year Saved. Results : Total cost per pt was higher in the clopidogrel arm for CURE and PCI-CURE (+463€ and +454€) respectively. The estimated number of LYS with clopidogrel for CURE pts was 69.9 per 1000 pts treated using Framingham and 68.2 using Saskatchewan data. Corresponding values for PCI-CURE were 69.8 per 1000 patients with Framingham and 88.5 with Saskatchewan data. The cost per LYS for clopidogrel versus placebo for CURE pts was 6,624€ with Framingham and 6,789€ with Saskatchewan database. For PCI-CURE pts these figures were 6,504€ and 5,130€ respectively. Conclusion : Based on the clinical findings of CURE and PCI-CURE trials clopidogrel appears to be cost-effective in Poland. Although results obtained from two different sources of survival data are consistent, the interpretation of present findings requires further adjustment to Polish epidemiological settings.