Background and objectives: Three new oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are currently approved for stroke prevention and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). The objective of this analysis was to assess the cost effectiveness of apixaban against other NOACs for the prevention of stroke in patients with NVAF in Greece.
Methods: A Markov model that evaluated clinical events, quality-adjusted life expectancy, and costs for patients treated with apixaban or other NOACs formed the basis of the analysis. Clinical events were modeled for a lifetime horizon, based on clinical efficacy data from an indirect comparison, using the ARISTOTLE, ROCKET-AF, and RE-LY clinical trials. Resource use associated with patient monitoring was elicited via a panel of experts (cardiologists and internists). Cost calculations reflect the local clinical setting and followed a third-party payer perspective (Euros, discounted at 3 %).
Results: Apixaban was projected to reduce the occurrence of clinical events and increase quality-adjusted life expectancy and incremental costs of treatment compared with other NOACs. Taking into account costs of medications, patient monitoring, and management of events, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for apixaban 5 mg twice daily vs. dabigatran 110 mg twice daily, dabigatran 150 mg twice daily, and rivaroxaban 20 mg once daily were estimated at €9907/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), €13,727/QALY, and €6936/QALY gained, respectively. Extensive sensitivity analyses indicated that results were robust over a wide range of inputs.
Conclusions: Based on the results of this analysis, apixaban can be a cost-effective alternative to other NOACs for the prevention of stroke in patients with NVAF in Greece.