title: Net clinical benefit of oral anticoagulants: a multiple criteria decision analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study quantitatively evaluated the comparative efficacy and safety of new oral anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, and apizaban) and warfarin for treatment of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. We also compared these agents under different scenarios, including population with high risk of stroke and for primary vs. secondary stroke prevention.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) to assess the benefit-risk of these medications. Our MCDA models contained criteria for benefits (prevention of ischemic stroke and systemic embolism) and risks (intracranial and extracranial bleeding). We calculated a performance score for each drug accounting for benefits and risks in comparison to treatment alternatives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, new agents had higher performance scores than warfarin; in order of performance scores: dabigatran 150 mg (0.529), rivaroxaban (0.462), apixaban (0.426), and warfarin (0.191). For patients at a higher risk of stroke (CHADS2 score≥3), apixaban had the highest performance score (0.686); performance scores for other drugs were 0.462 for dabigatran 150 mg, 0.392 for dabigatran 110 mg, 0.271 for rivaroxaban, and 0.116 for warfarin. Dabigatran 150 mg had the highest performance score for primary stroke prevention, while dabigatran 110 mg had the highest performance score for secondary prevention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that new oral anticoagulants might be preferred over warfarin. Selecting appropriate medicines according to the patient's condition based on information from an integrated benefit-risk assessment of treatment options is crucial to achieve optimal clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Stroke Center and Department of Neurology, Tainan Sin Lau Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Institute of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yea-Huei Kao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, MA, United States of America.
authors.forename: Christine Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000069604:Dabigatran / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D004617:Embolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011728:Pyridones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000069552:Rivaroxaban / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020521:Stroke / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014859:Warfarin / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011728:Pyridones; C522181:apixaban; D014859:Warfarin; D000069552:Rivaroxaban; D000069604:Dabigatran