Aspirin Versus LMWH for Thromboprophylaxis Following Hip or Knee Arthroplasty—Clinical Implications and Budget Impact

ABSTRACT Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant concern for patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty, with a need to balance effective thromboprophylaxis and bleeding risk. We aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and budget impact of aspirin versus low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMW...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eugen Javor, Andrej Belančić, Patrik Javor, Goran Hauser, Ivan Kruljac, Marko Skelin, Andrea Faour, Marko Lucijanić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-08-01
Series:Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/prp2.70147
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849406863746007040
author Eugen Javor
Andrej Belančić
Patrik Javor
Goran Hauser
Ivan Kruljac
Marko Skelin
Andrea Faour
Marko Lucijanić
author_facet Eugen Javor
Andrej Belančić
Patrik Javor
Goran Hauser
Ivan Kruljac
Marko Skelin
Andrea Faour
Marko Lucijanić
author_sort Eugen Javor
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant concern for patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty, with a need to balance effective thromboprophylaxis and bleeding risk. We aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and budget impact of aspirin versus low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) as sole thromboprophylactic agents initiated immediately postoperatively in this population. First, we conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases, assessing clinical outcomes and healthcare costs. Subsequently, a simplified budget impact analysis was performed using data from the largest identified and most recent RCT (CRISTAL trial) and its secondary analyses. Primary outcomes included symptomatic VTE, bleeding events, and reoperation rates. Through a systematic search, seven RCTs were considered to be eligible, with the CRISTAL trial providing the most compelling evidence. Aspirin was non‐inferior to LMWH for all‐cause mortality but was associated with a significantly higher symptomatic VTE rate (3,27% vs. 1,76%) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), predominantly distal DVT. The budget impact analysis revealed that despite aspirin's lower per tablet cost, thromboprophylaxis with LMWH led to annual savings of $35,912,459 to $110,431,241 for U.S. healthcare stakeholders, and $17,075 to $56,450 for single hospitals performing 1000 arthroplasty procedures annually. To conclude, enoxaparin appears to offer superior clinical efficacy and cost‐effectiveness compared to aspirin for thromboprophylaxis following hip and knee arthroplasty. These findings support the preferential use of LMWH in this setting, while highlighting the need for further investigation into the clinical significance of aspirin's higher distal DVT and pulmonary embolism risk.
format Article
id doaj-art-b804cf777c624a7daa5e35e6513b180e
institution Kabale University
issn 2052-1707
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
spelling doaj-art-b804cf777c624a7daa5e35e6513b180e2025-08-20T03:36:14ZengWileyPharmacology Research & Perspectives2052-17072025-08-01134n/an/a10.1002/prp2.70147Aspirin Versus LMWH for Thromboprophylaxis Following Hip or Knee Arthroplasty—Clinical Implications and Budget ImpactEugen Javor0Andrej Belančić1Patrik Javor2Goran Hauser3Ivan Kruljac4Marko Skelin5Andrea Faour6Marko Lucijanić7Solmed Clinic Zagreb CroatiaDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology With Toxicology University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine Rijeka CroatiaGeneral Hospital Sisak Sisak CroatiaFaculty of Medicine University of Rijeka Rijeka CroatiaSolmed Clinic Zagreb CroatiaDepartment of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology With Toxicology University of Rijeka, Faculty of Medicine Rijeka CroatiaVancouver Coastal Health Vancouver British Columbia CanadaSchool of Medicine University of Zagreb Zagreb CroatiaABSTRACT Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a significant concern for patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty, with a need to balance effective thromboprophylaxis and bleeding risk. We aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and budget impact of aspirin versus low‐molecular‐weight heparin (LMWH) as sole thromboprophylactic agents initiated immediately postoperatively in this population. First, we conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases, assessing clinical outcomes and healthcare costs. Subsequently, a simplified budget impact analysis was performed using data from the largest identified and most recent RCT (CRISTAL trial) and its secondary analyses. Primary outcomes included symptomatic VTE, bleeding events, and reoperation rates. Through a systematic search, seven RCTs were considered to be eligible, with the CRISTAL trial providing the most compelling evidence. Aspirin was non‐inferior to LMWH for all‐cause mortality but was associated with a significantly higher symptomatic VTE rate (3,27% vs. 1,76%) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), predominantly distal DVT. The budget impact analysis revealed that despite aspirin's lower per tablet cost, thromboprophylaxis with LMWH led to annual savings of $35,912,459 to $110,431,241 for U.S. healthcare stakeholders, and $17,075 to $56,450 for single hospitals performing 1000 arthroplasty procedures annually. To conclude, enoxaparin appears to offer superior clinical efficacy and cost‐effectiveness compared to aspirin for thromboprophylaxis following hip and knee arthroplasty. These findings support the preferential use of LMWH in this setting, while highlighting the need for further investigation into the clinical significance of aspirin's higher distal DVT and pulmonary embolism risk.https://doi.org/10.1002/prp2.70147aspirinlow‐molecular‐weight heparinorthopedicsthromboprophylaxis
spellingShingle Eugen Javor
Andrej Belančić
Patrik Javor
Goran Hauser
Ivan Kruljac
Marko Skelin
Andrea Faour
Marko Lucijanić
Aspirin Versus LMWH for Thromboprophylaxis Following Hip or Knee Arthroplasty—Clinical Implications and Budget Impact
Pharmacology Research & Perspectives
aspirin
low‐molecular‐weight heparin
orthopedics
thromboprophylaxis
title Aspirin Versus LMWH for Thromboprophylaxis Following Hip or Knee Arthroplasty—Clinical Implications and Budget Impact
title_full Aspirin Versus LMWH for Thromboprophylaxis Following Hip or Knee Arthroplasty—Clinical Implications and Budget Impact
title_fullStr Aspirin Versus LMWH for Thromboprophylaxis Following Hip or Knee Arthroplasty—Clinical Implications and Budget Impact
title_full_unstemmed Aspirin Versus LMWH for Thromboprophylaxis Following Hip or Knee Arthroplasty—Clinical Implications and Budget Impact
title_short Aspirin Versus LMWH for Thromboprophylaxis Following Hip or Knee Arthroplasty—Clinical Implications and Budget Impact
title_sort aspirin versus lmwh for thromboprophylaxis following hip or knee arthroplasty clinical implications and budget impact
topic aspirin
low‐molecular‐weight heparin
orthopedics
thromboprophylaxis
url https://doi.org/10.1002/prp2.70147
work_keys_str_mv AT eugenjavor aspirinversuslmwhforthromboprophylaxisfollowinghiporkneearthroplastyclinicalimplicationsandbudgetimpact
AT andrejbelancic aspirinversuslmwhforthromboprophylaxisfollowinghiporkneearthroplastyclinicalimplicationsandbudgetimpact
AT patrikjavor aspirinversuslmwhforthromboprophylaxisfollowinghiporkneearthroplastyclinicalimplicationsandbudgetimpact
AT goranhauser aspirinversuslmwhforthromboprophylaxisfollowinghiporkneearthroplastyclinicalimplicationsandbudgetimpact
AT ivankruljac aspirinversuslmwhforthromboprophylaxisfollowinghiporkneearthroplastyclinicalimplicationsandbudgetimpact
AT markoskelin aspirinversuslmwhforthromboprophylaxisfollowinghiporkneearthroplastyclinicalimplicationsandbudgetimpact
AT andreafaour aspirinversuslmwhforthromboprophylaxisfollowinghiporkneearthroplastyclinicalimplicationsandbudgetimpact
AT markolucijanic aspirinversuslmwhforthromboprophylaxisfollowinghiporkneearthroplastyclinicalimplicationsandbudgetimpact