Cost-effectiveness of acute ischemic stroke in China: Markov matrix analyses WANG M, ZHANG F*, FU SY, DU J, *College of Business Administration of Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China OBJECTIVES: To measure economic consequences of NBP (Butylphthalide) for acute ischemic stroke in China. METHODS: A multi-center, randomized, double-blind control study was conducted, 220 patients were admitted into the treatment group and control group, the main regimen is A1 (Butylphthalide sodium chloride injection and Butylphthalide sodium chloride capsule), A2 (Butylphthalide sodium chloride injection), B (Ozagrel injection). We explored the MRS (modified Rankin score) to establish Markov state transition model, with six different health states. The cost and effectiveness data were come from the studies based on Chinese acute ischemic stroke studies. Based on transferred Markov matrix, we will obtain the time period for disease steady-state and predict long-term costs and cost-effectiveness from the patient's perspective. RESULTS: A1 group reached the steady state first, five cycles (10 months), A2 and B group were behind a period. The steady state cost of A1 group involved 79,396.90 yuan, more than A2 group by 19,379.54 yuan, and 85,806.71 yuan for B group, compared with the extension days with no obvious significant. At a steady state, the cost-effectiveness ratio of A1 Group's health state was 86.3 thousand yuan, A2 group 82.1 thousand yuan and B group 96.4 thousand yuan, Thus, economic results of A group (A1 and A2) were better than B group, A2 group slightly better than A1 group, but given the time to reach a steady state, the A1 group had more advantages of economic effects. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this model-based economic analysis, A1 strategy was the most cost-effective option in comparisons with A2 and B strategies for acute ischemic stroke in China.