The EPCAT II trial examined whether aspirin and rivaroxaban were clinically equivalent in the extended prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism after hip or knee replacement. They proved “comparably effective and safe,” according to our guest, Dr. David Anderson, the study’s first author. An editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine, where the study appeared in February, calls the results practice-changing. One thing was sure from the outset — aspirin is cheaper than rivaroxaban by orders of magnitude.

A note to listeners: Dr. Anderson and I conducted the interview over several sessions, so the first-half audio sounds a bit rougher than the second. Your speakers don’t suddenly get better — my equipment does!

Links:

NEJM report

NEJM editorial

Journal Watch General Medicine summary