Economic burden of rivaroxaban and warfarin among nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients with obesity and polypharmacy

Journal of Comparative Effectiveness Research, 2021

Aim

Evaluate healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and costs associated with rivaroxaban and warfarin among nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients with obesity and polypharmacy.

Materials & methods

IQVIA PharMetrics® Plus (January 2010-September 2019) data were used to identify NVAF patients with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) and polypharmacy (≥5 medications) initiated on rivaroxaban or warfarin. Weighted rate ratios and cost differences were evaluated post-treatment initiation.

Results

Rivaroxaban was associated with significantly lower rates of HRU, including hospitalization (rate ratio [95% CI]: 0.83 [0.77, 0.92]). Medical costs were reduced in rivaroxaban users (difference [95% CI]: -US$6868 [-US$10,628, -US$2954]), resulting in significantly lower total healthcare costs compared with warfarin users (difference [95% CI]: -US$4433 [-US$8136, -US$582]).

Conclusion

Rivaroxaban was associated with lower HRU and costs compared with warfarin among NVAF patients with obesity and polypharmacy in commercially insured US patients.

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Authors

Laliberté F, Ashton V, Kharat A, Lejeune D, Moore KT, Jung Y, Lefebvre P, Berger JS