November 20, 2002JAMA
Oral Anticoagulants vs Aspirin in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
Why the study?
Do vitamin K-inhibiting oral anticoagulants reduce the risk of stroke and cardiovascular events compared to aspirin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation?
Population
4,052 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation pooled from 6 randomized clinical trials.
Comparison
Vitamin K-inhibiting oral anticoagulants vs Acetylsalicylic acid with or without low-dose…
Design
Meta-analysis
Authors
Discussion
Loading...
Member takes
Implication
Supports OAC over aspirin for stroke prevention in nonvalvular AF; reinforces guideline-directed therapy despite bleeding risk.
Structured PICO
Do vitamin K-inhibiting oral anticoagulants reduce the risk of stroke and cardiovascular events compared to aspirin in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation?
P
Population
4,052 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (chronic or paroxysmal) pooled from 6 randomized clinical trials.
I
Intervention
Vitamin K-inhibiting oral anticoagulants (therapeutic doses)
C
Comparator
Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) with or without low-dose oral anticoagulants
O
Outcome
Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, other cardiovascular events, all-cause death, and major bleeding eventshard clinical
Vitamin K-inhibiting oral anticoagulants are superior to aspirin for preventing stroke and cardiovascular events in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, though they modestly increase major bleeding risk.
Cite This Study
Walraven et al. (2002) studied this question.