IntroductIon: The three main novel anticoagulants (NOACs) currently licensed in Europe, apixaban, dabigatran and rivaroxaban, have all been directly compared against warfarin in randomised controlled trials. However, none of the three drugs have been directly compared against each other. Thus, there has been an increase in the number of meta-analyses and indirect comparisons published comparing the relative efficacy and safety of these novel anticoagulants against each other via warfarin as a common comparator. objectIves: Systematically review all meta-analyses and indirect comparisons evaluating the NOACs against warfarin for the prevention of stroke in patients with AF and critically appraise the statistical methods used to do so. Methods: Systematic searches of EMBASE, MedLine, EBM Reviews, EconLIT as well as manual searches of ClincalTrials. gov, the Cochrane Library, CADTH, NICE, NHSEED and HTA were conducted. Data was abstracted from any citation applying statistical methods to compare the efficacy and safety of NOACs for the prevention of AF-related stroke. Information regarding the statistical approach; model assumptions; data presentation; interpretation of the evidence; and discussions of internal and external validity was used to quality rate each study. results: Bucher's method of adjusted indirect comparison was most widely used. There were generally three main model assumptions required: the similarity, homogeneity and consistency assumptions, each being investigated with varying scrutiny in the studies reviewed. According to the quality assessment, the indirect comparison conducted by Wells and colleagues (2012) is of the highest relative quality. conclusIons: The limited number of RCTs available comparing the NOACs to standard therapy, creates considerable uncertainty surrounding the comparative efficacy and safety of these anticoagulants. In order to establish which individual NOAC is most likely to benefit a given patient population, indirect comparisons and meta-analyses are increasingly used. However, the quality of indirect comparison studies are variable and results should be interpreted with care.

0.9(95%CI:0.7-1.1), with a mean increase in total length of stays per SRE of ) and 17.2(95%CI:13.6-20.7) days, respectively. For the same countries, the mean increase in number of outpatient visits per SRE were 3.8(95%CI:2.7-4.9), 4.7(95%CI: 3.5-6.0), 1.1(95%CI:0.7-1.5), 1.3(95%CI:0.7-1.8) and 5.2(95%CI:4.0-6.5). Mean increase in number of procedures per SRE were 10.9(95%CI:9.5-12.2), 6.9(95%CI:5.6-8.2), 4.4(95%CI:3.7-5.0), 4.7(95%CI:3.9-5.6) and 10.1(95%CI:8.8-11.4). Data by SRE type show considerable HRU variation. CONCLUSIONS: Data indicate that SREs may result in a mean increase of 0.8 -1.0 inpatient stays with a mean total duration of 10.9 -17.2 days. SREs are also linked to numerous outpatient visits and procedures. Thus, a further reduction in the number of SREs by new bone-targeted agents should reduce the financial burden on European health care systems. OBJECTIVES:The main objective of this study was to evaluate the utilisation of antineoplastic agents in Slovak Republic during the period of 2006-2010. METHODS: Statistical analysed data including the number of medicine packages, DDD and financial expenditures were abstracted from the Slovak Institute of Drug Control. Key data were provided by wholesalers due to their legal obligation towards the SIDC. RESULTS: Consumption of antineoplastic agents in terms of DID (DDD/1000 inhabitants/day) reached its highest peak in 2007 with 31,12 and the lowest value of DID was observed in 2009 with 27,30. The total expenditures doubled their volume within period of 2006-2010 from 56,021,412 € to 111,646,240 € respectively. Number of delivered packages showed slight increase from 426,412 in 2009 to 629,782 in 2010 while price per single package was rising from 131,29 € (2006) to 197,68 € (2008) and then decreased to 177,28 € (2010). Resulting from further study the highest consumption in terms of DID was reached by gemcitabine (7,38 in 2006 and 7,21 in 2010), ifosfamide (5,91 in 2006 and 6,94 in 2010) and fourouracil (2,56 in 2006 and 3,26 in 2010). Expressed in financial units the most costly antineoplastic agent in 2006 was imatinibum with 8 569 021 €, followed by rituximab with 4,896,000 € and irinotecan with 4,888,660 €. In 2010 reached paramount financial consumption bevacizumab with 17,771,426 €, trastuzumab with 10,173,699 € and imatinibum with 8,212,353 €. CONCLUSIONS: Expenditures for antineoplastic agents are continually rising as a result of biological treatment establishment. There is observed significant increase of their consuption due rheumatic diseases treatment.

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