Atrial Fibrillation
Posted Friday 03 July 2009 - 14:34 PM by David Chan
First Line Drugs
- ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID (B01AC06)
- CLOPIDOGREL (B01AC04)
Reference
Comments/Instructions
Bottom line
Clopidogrel (Plavix) plus aspirin provides a small reduction in disabling stroke (number needed to treat [NNT] = 200 for 3.6 years), but causes an increased risk of major hemorrhage (number needed to treat to harm [NNTH] = 143 for 3.6 years). At a cost of approximately $1000 per year for clopidogrel, the cost to prevent a single disabling stroke is $720,000, although presumably preventing a disabling stroke will reduce the subsequent costs of care for that person. A cost-effectiveness analysis is needed to determine whether this small net benefit is worth the cost. (LOE = 1b)
Tags
- Cardiovascular
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