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Published on: February 28, 2012
Chronic ischaemic heart disease and rivaroxaban: which patients derive the greatest benefit?
Leonardo Bolognese1, Massimo Felici1
1Dipartimento Cardio-neuro-vascolare, Azienda Sudest Toscana,Italy.
Insights
Patients with cardiovascular disease can reduce risks of heart attack, stroke, and death. Adding low-dose rivaroxaban to aspirin therapy significantly lowers these major adverse cardiovascular events in stable coronary artery disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Vascular Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Established cardiovascular (CV) disease patients face risks of recurrent events despite optimal treatment.
- Platelet inhibition is key in preventing new CV events.
- Anticoagulant therapy for atheromatous disease prevention was previously underutilized.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the results of the Rivaroxaban for the Prevention of Major Cardiovascular Events in Coronary or Peripheral Artery Disease (COMPASS) trial.
- To assess the impact of rivaroxaban plus aspirin on secondary prevention in stable coronary artery disease.
Main Methods:
- The COMPASS trial investigated the efficacy of rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily plus low-dose aspirin.
- The study focused on patients with stable coronary artery disease.
Main Results:
- Rivaroxaban plus low-dose aspirin significantly reduced the composite endpoint of stroke, heart attack, and death.
- The combination therapy demonstrated a promising effect on secondary prevention.
Conclusions:
- The COMPASS trial provides significant findings for secondary prevention in stable cardiovascular disease.
- This regimen may alter current clinical practice for managing patients with established atheromatous disease.
Abstract:
Patients with established cardiovascular (CV) disease may suffer further CV events, despite receiving optimal medical treatment. Although platelet inhibition plays a central role in the prevention of new events, the use of anticoagulant therapies to reduce events in atheromatous disease has, until recently, been overlooked. The recent Rivaroxaban for the Prevention of Major Cardiovascular Events in Coronary or Peripheral Artery Disease (COMPASS) trial showed that rivaroxaban 2.5 mg twice daily given with low-dose aspirin reduces the incidence of the composite endpoint of stroke, heart attack, and death in patients with stable coronary artery disease. Although there are some limitations to the study, COMPASS offers promising conclusions and may change secondary prevention in patients with stable CV disease. This article reviews the results of the COMPASS study and how these results may affect patient management in everyday clinical practice.
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