Rivaroxaban versus Clopidogrel for Peripheral Artery Disease: A Clinico-Economic Approach of the COMPASS Trial

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the third most common manifestation of atherosclerosis after coronary artery (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). People with PAD have plaque findings in other vascular territories as well and, thus, are at increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events (MACCE), including myocardial infarction, and stroke. In that context, the COMPASS multicenter, randomized controlled trial showed that the risk of MACCE was significantly reduced by 24% in the rivaroxaban plus aspirin arm compared with aspirin alone (4.1% vs 5.4% respectively; HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.66 to 0.86). Interestingly, the rivaroxaban/aspirin arm also showed a reduction in cardiovascular death (HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.64-0.96]) and allcause mortality (HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.71-0.96) by 22% and 18%, respectively. Recently, the FDA approved the use of the dual pathway approach, rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus aspirin 75-100mg once daily, to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular (CV) events, such as CV death, myocardial infarction and stroke, in people with CAD as well as PAD. In comparing rivaroxaban plus aspirin versus aspirin alone, a preliminary economic analysis showed that saving per patient was USD 462 for events and USD 220 for procedures with a total reduction of USD 682 per participant in the US with the combination group (rivaroxaban plus aspirin). The data from COMPASS trial suggest that low dose rivaroxaban plus aspirin may be a preferred treatment strategy in PAD patients in whom the bleeding risk is deemed to be favourable.