Costs and Effectiveness of Ximelagatran for Stroke Prophylaxis in Chronic Atrial Fibrillation
- Cara L. O’Brien, MD;
- Brian F. Gage, MD, MSc
- Corresponding Author: Brian F. Gage, MD, MSc, General Medical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8005, 660 S Euclid Ave, St Louis, MO 63110 (bgage{at}im.wustl.edu).
Abstract
Context Recent trials have found that ximelagatran and warfarin are equally effective in stroke prevention for patients with atrial fibrillation. Because ximelagatran can be taken in a fixed, oral dose without international normalized ratio monitoring and may have a lower risk of hemorrhage, it might improve quality-adjusted survival compared with dose-adjusted warfarin.
Objective To compare quality-adjusted survival and cost among 3 alternative therapies for patients with chronic atrial fibrillation: ximelagatran, warfarin, and aspirin.
Design Semi-Markov decision model.
Patients Hypothetical cohort of 70-year-old patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, varying risk of stroke, and no contraindications to anticoagulation therapy.
Main Outcome Measures Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and costs in US dollars.
Results For patients with atrial fibrillation but no additional risk factors for stroke, both ximelagatran and warfarin cost more than $50 000 per QALY compared with aspirin. For patients with additional stroke risk factors and low hemorrhage risk, ximelagatran modestly increased quality-adjusted survival (0.12 QALY) at a substantial cost ($116 000 per QALY) compared with warfarin. For ximelagatran to cost less than $50 000 per QALY it would have to cost less than $1100 per year or be prescribed to patients who have an elevated risk of intracranial hemorrhage (>1.0% per year of warfarin) or a low quality of life with warfarin therapy.
Conclusion Assuming equal effectiveness in stroke prevention and decreased hemorrhage risk, ximelagatran is not likely to be cost-effective in patients with atrial fibrillation unless they have a high risk of intracranial hemorrhage or a low quality of life with warfarin.
