Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation: How to Weigh in on Which Drug May Work Best for You

Joseph D. Jackson, PhD
Program Director, Applied Health Economics and Outcomes Research, and Associate Professor
Jefferson School of Population Health
Philadelphia., Pa

Background:

Joe Jackson is the Program Director for Applied Economics and Outcomes Research at JSPH, where he is responsible for the School’s Master of Science degree program in Applied Health Economics and Outcomes Research (MS-AHEOR) and for the AHEOR specialization in the School’s PhD program in Population Health Sciences.

These programs ground students in the fundamentals of AHEOR, with emphasis on applications to everyday work settings.

Dr. Jackson has over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with much of this time devoted to clinical research. His work has involved many facets of the management and practice of Outcomes Research, including the translation of clinical evidence into user-friendly cost-effectiveness models and many health technology assessment filings.  He has generated Quality of Life evidence, and obtained listing in the package insert for a Patient-Reported Outcomes claim in the USA and Europe.

Dr. Jackson is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, School of Pharmacy, with a PhD in Health Care Administration.  He completed two residencies with the federal government in Washington, DC.  Dr. Jackson holds adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Mississippi, Rutgers University and the University of Maryland Schools of Pharmacy, and Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Overview:

In this program, Dr Jackson;

1. Describes the characteristics of the population needing stroke prevention in chronic Atrial fibrillation
2. Reviews the comparative effectiveness of oral anticoagulant therapeutic options, benefits and risks
3. Explores issues of effectiveness, safety and value from a population health perspective

3 Key Points:

1. There are now options for oral anticoagulants that are critical for stroke prevention.
2. Coumadin and generics (Warfarin) has been effective as an oral anticoagulant for many years.
3. There are now “New Kids” on the block-namely, Dabigatran (Pradaxa) and Rivoaroxaban (Xarelto).