Cost-Effectiveness of Increased Use of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy After High-Risk Transient Ischemic Attack or Minor Stroke

Paul M. Wechsler, Ankur Pandya, Neal S. Parikh, Junaid A. Razzak, Halina White, Babak B. Navi, Hooman Kamel, Ava L. Liberman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rates of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after high-risk transient ischemic attack or minor ischemic stroke (TIAMIS) are suboptimal. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis to characterize the parameters of a quality improvement (QI) intervention designed to increase DAPT use after TIAMIS. METHODS AND RESULTS: We constructed a decision tree model that compared current national rates of DAPT use after TIAMIS with rates after implementing a theoretical QI intervention designed to increase appropriate DAPT use. The base case assumed that a QI intervention increased the rate of DAPT use to 65% from 45%. Costs (payer and societal) and outcomes (stroke, myocardial infarction, major bleed, or death) were modeled using a lifetime horizon. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio <$100 000 per quality-adjusted life year was considered cost-effective. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. From the payer perspective, a QI intervention was associated with $9657 in lifetime cost savings and 0.18 more quality-adjusted life years compared with current national treatment rates. A QI intervention was cost-effective in 73% of probabilistic sensitivity analysis iterations. Results were similar from the societal perspective. The maximum acceptable, initial, 1-time payer cost of a QI intervention was $28 032 per patient. A QI intervention that increased DAPT use to at least 51% was cost-effective in the base case. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing DAPT use after TIAMIS with a QI intervention is cost-effective over a wide range of costs and proportion of patients with TIAMIS treated with DAPT after implementation of a QI intervention. Our results support the development of future interventions focused on increasing DAPT use after TIAMIS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e032808
JournalJournal of the American Heart Association
Volume13
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2 Apr 2024
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • acute ischemic stroke
  • cost‐effectiveness analysis
  • dual antiplatelet therapy
  • quality improvement
  • transient ischemic attack

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