Cost-effectiveness of apixaban and rivaroxaban in thromboprophylaxis of cancer patients treated with chemotherapy in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Apixaban and rivaroxaban are two direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) recommended for thromboprophylaxis in cancer patients treated with chemotherapy in an ambulatory setting. We aimed to assess the cost-utility of thromboprophylaxis with apixaban and rivaroxaban vs no thromboprophylaxis in ambulatory cancer patients starting chemotherapy with an intermediate-to-high risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), Khorana score ≥ 2 points.

METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed from the perspective of Spain´s National Health System (NHS) using an analytical decision model in the short term (180 days) and a Markov model in the long term (5 years). Transition probabilities were obtained from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials of apixaban and rivaroxaban in adult ambulatory patients with cancer at risk for VTE, treated with chemotherapy (AVERT and CASSINI trials). The costs (€2021) were taken from Spanish sources. The utilities of the model were obtained through the EQ-5D questionnaire. Deterministic (base case) and probabilistic (second-order Monte Carlo simulation) analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, apixaban generated a cost per patient of €1,082 ± 187 with a 95% confidence intervals (CI) of €713;1,442, while no prophylaxis produced a cost per patient of €1,146 ± 218 with a 95% CI of €700; 1491, with a saving of €64 per patient and a gain of 0.008 QALYs. Likewise, rivaroxaban provided a cost per patient of €993 ± 133 with a 95% CI of €748; 1,310, while no prophylaxis produced a cost per patient of €872 ± 152 with a 95% CI of €602; 1,250, with an additional expense of €121 per patient and a gain of 0.008 QALYs.

CONCLUSIONS: In thromboprophylaxis of cancer patients, the use of apixaban and rivaroxaban generated similar cost compared to non-prophylaxis, without the difference found being statistically significant, with a clinically insignificant QALY gain.