Healthcare Resource Utilization for Oral Anticoagulant Reversal Therapies in Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation/Venous Thromboembolism Patients

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to describe the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and associated costs with hospitalized patients receiving specific versus non-specific oral anticoagulation reversal therapy for life-threatening bleeds and emergency surgeries or urgent procedures. METHODS: This retrospective observational study using the Premier Healthcare Database included adult patients aged ≥ 18 years treated with idarucizumab (IDA) or 3- or 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrates (PCC) to reverse the effects of dabigatran or warfarin, respectively, between October 2015 and February 2018. Median hospital length of stay was 6 and 7 days for patients who received IDA or PCC (P < 0.001), respectively. The percentage of patients with an intensive care unit (ICU) admission was lower for IDA patients compared with PCC patients (61.3% vs. 68.7%; P < 0.001). Median total costs per hospitalization were $19,357 for IDA patients and $26,920 for PCC patients (P < 0.001). Median costs per hospitalization for IDA and PCC treatment were $3,277 and $4,424, respectively. When HCRU and costs were examined by cause of reversal and type of bleed, similar trends in hospitalized costs emerged for IDA compared with PCC treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis revealed lower HCRU and total hospital costs in patients administered IDA compared with PCC for reversal of oral anticoagulation, though differences in population characteristics and bleeding events were observed that may have contributed to these findings.