ACC: Newer anticoagulants may reduce medical costs compared with warfarin

Cardiovascular Business: Written by Justine Cadet, March 27, 2012.

CHICAGO—The usage of dabigatran, rivaroxban and apixaban may be associated with a reduction in medical costs when used instead of warfarin—with apixaban “potentially” being associated with the greatest cost reduction, based on an analysis of ARISTOTLE, RE-LY and ROCKET-AF trials, presented March 26 at the 61st annual American College of Cardiology (ACC) scientific session.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common significant cardiac rhythm disorder, and is associated with a five-fold increased risk for ischemic stroke. The anticoagulant commonly used for stroke prevention in AF patients is warfarin, even though its therapeutic range is “narrow,” according to the study authors. In three large randomized, controlled trials—RE-LY, ROCKET-AF and ARISTOTLE—the novel oral anticoagulants dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban demonstrated themselves as effective options for stroke prevention among nonvalvular AF patients.Read More