Key result
New direct oral anticoagulants demonstrated noninferiority or superiority to vitamin K antagonists for preventing ischemic stroke and systemic embolism, with similar or reduced major bleeding rates.
Why the study?
Do new direct oral anticoagulants prevent embolic events safely and effectively compared to vitamin K antagonists in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation?
Do new direct oral anticoagulants prevent embolic events safely and effectively compared to vitamin K antagonists in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation?
New oral anticoagulants offer an effective, convenient alternative to vitamin K antagonists for stroke prevention in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, eliminating the need for routine monitoring.
May support DOAC preference in nonvalvular AF; leaves open head-to-head and long-term outcome trials.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) continues to be a leading cause of cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality resulting from cardioembolic stroke. Oral anticoagulation therapy has been shown to decrease the incidence of cardioembolic stroke in patients with AF by more than 50%. Appropriate use of anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists requires precise adherence and monitoring. A number of factors that potentially induce patients' dissatisfaction reduce quality of patient life. New direct oral anticoagulants, such as the direct factor Xa inhibitors rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban, and the thrombin inhibitor dabigatran, were developed to overcome the limitations of the conventional anticoagulant drugs. However, models to optimize the benefit of therapy and to ensure that therapy can be safely continued are missing for the new oral anticoagulants. This review will briefly describe the new oral anticoagulants dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban with focus on their use for prevention of embolic events in AF. Moreover, it will discuss the safety, efficacy, cost data, and benefit for patients' quality of life and adherence.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Mani et al. (2014) conducted a review in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. New direct oral anticoagulants (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, edoxaban) vs. Vitamin K antagonists (e.g., warfarin, phenprocoumon) was evaluated. New direct oral anticoagulants demonstrated noninferiority or superiority to vitamin K antagonists for preventing ischemic stroke and systemic embolism, with similar or reduced major bleeding rates.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: