Pharmacoeconomics of dabigatran etexilate for prevention of thromboembolism after joint replacement surgery

Abstract

Dabigatran etexilate (DE) is a novel oral anticoagulant indicated for the prevention of venous thromboembolism in patients undergoing total hip or total knee replacement surgery. The majority of these patients receive some kind of thromboprophylaxis, most commonly low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). However, the subcutaneous route of LMWH administration may act as a barrier to the continuation of effective anticoagulant prophylaxis after discharge from hospital. The oral route of DE administration may allow more patients to receive extended thromboprophylaxis and may reduce costs, such as those associated with nurse time for LMWH administrations, platelet monitoring, needlestick injuries and sharps disposal. This article presents an overview of the clinical evidence for DE and a systematic review of the economic evaluations of the drug.

Keywords::

• economics
• primary prevention
• review
• thromboembolism
• total hip replacement
• total knee replacement

Acknowledgements

The author would like to acknowledge the contributions of Mark Howell for systematic literature searches and Gail Zona for editorial support.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Sorrel Wolowacz has performed research funded by Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.