Chronic ischaemic heart disease and rivaroxaban: which patients derive the greatest benefit?

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.