title: Healthcare costs associated with rivaroxaban or warfarin use for the treatment of venous thromboembolism.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rivaroxaban has been shown to have similar efficacy but less major bleeding than warfarin in randomized trials of patients experiencing venous thromboembolism (VTE). This report sought to assess healthcare costs up to 12-months following an index VTE in patients prescribed either rivaroxaban or warfarin.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study analyzed claims from the MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database from November 2011-July 2015. It selected adults newly-diagnosed with VTE (deep vein thrombosis [DVT] or pulmonary embolism [PE]) if they had an outpatient prescription claim for rivaroxaban or warfarin within 7-days of the index event. Warfarin users were 2:1 propensity-score matched to rivaroxaban users and followed until the end of insurance coverage, end of data availability or 12-months of follow-up. Total per patient healthcare costs, including inpatient, outpatient, and overall pharmacy costs, were compared using a multivariable generalized linear model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 10,929 rivaroxaban patients were matched to 21,858 warfarin patients. Mean follow-up for rivaroxaban and warfarin patients was 317- and 321-days for those experiencing an index DVT, and 313- and 318-days for those with PE. Mean overall treatment costs per patient were lower for rivaroxaban vs warfarin users (-$1,116, p = .0016). This cost difference was driven by lower inpatient (-$622) and outpatient (-$1,156) treatment costs, and the higher pharmacy costs ($661) were, therefore, fully offset. Results were similar when analysis was restricted to DVT patients. No significant difference in total costs was observed in patients experiencing an index PE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Claims databases are subject to inaccuracies and missing data. Prescription claims may not fully reflect actual medication utilization. Despite propensity-score matching and regression, residual confounding cannot be excluded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rivaroxaban was associated with significantly lower total per patient VTE treatment costs, despite higher pharmacy costs. These savings are the result of decreased inpatient and outpatient healthcare utilization costs associated with rivaroxaban.
authors: a University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy , Storrs , CT , USA.
authors: Craig I
authors: CI
authors: Coleman
authors: b Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Baugh
authors: c Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC , Raritan , NJ , USA.
authors: Concetta
authors: C
authors: Crivera
authors: c Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC , Raritan , NJ , USA.
authors: Dejan
authors: D
authors: Milentijevic
authors: d Janssen Research and Development, LLC , Raritan , NJ , USA.
authors: Sheng-Wei
authors: SW
authors: Wang
authors: d Janssen Research and Development, LLC , Raritan , NJ , USA.
authors: Lang
authors: L
authors: Lu
authors: c Janssen Scientific Affairs, LLC , Raritan , NJ , USA.
authors: Winnie W
authors: WW
authors: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057216:Propensity Score; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000188:drug therapy; D000069552:Rivaroxaban / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014859:Warfarin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics*
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D065427:Factor Xa Inhibitors; D014859:Warfarin; D000069552:Rivaroxaban
keywords: Healthcare costs; deep vein thrombosis; pulmonary embolism; rivaroxaban; venous thromboembolism; warfarin