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. 1992 Dec 12;305(6867):1457-60.
doi: 10.1136/bmj.305.6867.1457.

Cost effectiveness of primary stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: Swedish national perspective

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Cost effectiveness of primary stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: Swedish national perspective

C Gustafsson et al. BMJ. .

Abstract

Objective: To assess the potential effects of primary prevention with anticoagulants or aspirin in atrial fibrillation on Swedish population.

Design: Analysis of cost effectiveness based on the following assumptions: about 83,000 people have atrial fibrillation in Sweden, of whom 22,000 would be potential candidates for treatment with anticoagulants and 55,000 for aspirin treatment; the annual 5% stroke rate is reduced by 64% (with anticoagulants) and 25% (with aspirin); incidence of intracranial haemorrhage of 0.3%, 1.3%, or 2.0% per year; direct and indirect costs of a stroke of Kr180,000 and Kr90,000; estimated annual cost of treatment is Kr5030 for anticoagulants and Kr100 for aspirin.

Setting: Total Swedish population.

Main outcome measures: Direct and indirect costs of stroke saved, number of strokes prevented, and cost of preventive treatment.

Results: Depending on the rate of haemorrhagic complications 34 to 83 patients would need to be treated annually with anticoagulants to prevent one stroke; 83 patients would need to be treated with aspirin. Giving anticoagulant treatment only would reduce costs by Kr60 million if the incidence of intracranial haemorrhage were 0.3% but would imply a net expense if the complication rate exceeded 1.3%. The total savings from giving anticoagulant (22,000 patients) and aspirin (55,000 patients) treatment would be Kr175 million per year corresponding to 2 million pounds per million inhabitants each year.

Conclusions: Treatment with anticoagulants and, if contraindications exist, with aspirin is cost effective provided that the risk of serious haemorrhage complications due to anticoagulants is kept low.

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