The various risk stratification schemes classified variable proportions as low , moderate and high risk , but the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score classified the smallest proportion of patients as ' low risk ' .
Anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists and dabigatran is cost-effective in patients at high risk of stroke , but not in patients without any other stroke risk factor beside AF .
Cost-Effectiveness of Dabigatran Compared With Warfarin for Stroke Prevention in Atrial Fibrillation
BACKGROUND Warfarin reduces the risk for ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation ( AF ) but increases the risk for hemorrhage . Dabigatran is a fixed-dose , oral direct thrombin inhibitor with similar or reduced rates of ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage in patients with AF compared with those of warfarin . OBJECTIVE To estimate the quality -adjusted survival , costs , and cost-effectiveness of dabigatran compared with adjusted-dose warfarin for preventing ischemic stroke in patients 65 years or older with nonvalvular AF . DESIGN Markov decision model . DATA SOURCES The RE-LY ( R and omized Evaluation of Long-Term Anticoagulation Therapy ) trial and other published studies of anticoagulation . The cost of dabigatran was estimated on the basis of pricing in the United Kingdom . TARGET POPULATION Patients aged 65 years or older with nonvalvular AF and risk factors for stroke ( CHADS₂ score ≥1 or equivalent ) and no contraindications to anticoagulation . TIME HORIZON Lifetime . PERSPECTIVE Societal . INTERVENTION Warfarin anticoagulation ( target international normalized ratio , 2.0 to 3.0 ) ; dabigatran , 110 mg twice daily ( low dose ) ; and dabigatran , 150 mg twice daily ( high dose ) . OUTCOME MEASURES Quality -adjusted life-years ( QALYs ) , costs ( in 2008 U.S. dollars ) , and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios . RESULTS OF BASE-CASE ANALYSIS The quality -adjusted life expectancy was 10.28 QALYs with warfarin , 10.70 QALYs with low-dose dabigatran , and 10.84 QALYs with high-dose dabigatran . Total costs were $ 143 193 for warfarin , $ 164 576 for low-dose dabigatran , and $ 168 398 for high-dose dabigatran . The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios  compared with warfarin were $ 51 229 per QALY for low-dose dabigatran and $ 45 372 per QALY for high-dose dabigatran . RESULTS OF SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS The model was sensitive to the cost of dabigatran but was relatively insensitive to other model inputs . The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio increased to $ 50 000 per QALY at a cost of $ 13.70 per day for high-dose dabigatran but remained less than $ 85 000 per QALY over the full range of model inputs evaluated . The cost-effectiveness of high-dose dabigatran improved with increasing risk for stroke and intracranial hemorrhage . LIMITATION Event rates were largely derived from a single r and omized clinical trial and extrapolated to a 35-year time frame from clinical trials with approximately 2-year follow-up . CONCLUSION In patients aged 65 years or older with nonvalvular AF at increased risk for stroke ( CHADS₂ score ≥1 or equivalent ) , dabigatran may be a cost-effective alternative to warfarin depending on pricing in the United States . PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE American Heart Association and Veterans Affairs Health Services Research & Development Service
The various risk stratification schemes classified variable proportions as low , moderate and high risk , but the CHA(2)DS(2)-VASc score classified the smallest proportion of patients as ' low risk ' .
Anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists and dabigatran is cost-effective in patients at high risk of stroke , but not in patients without any other stroke risk factor beside AF .