Safety and efficacy of concomitant treatment with non‐vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and antiseizure medications: A propensity score matching cohort study

Abstract Research on cerebrovascular events in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients taking non‐vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) with antiseizure medications (ASMs) is limited, highlighting a significant gap in literature. We assessed thrombotic and hemorrhagic risks in patients on NOACs and ASMs versus those on NOACs or ASMs alone. We analyzed a retrospective cohort from five centers, including AF and epilepsy patients on both medications ( n = 188), AF patients on NOACs ( n = 298), and epilepsy patients on ASMs ( n = 50), with a 3‐year follow‐up. Propensity score matching adjusted for cardiovascular risk differences. The primary outcomes were ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and major bleeding. Results showed the ASM+NOAC group had a higher risk of primary outcomes compared to the NOAC‐only group (5.68% vs. 1.18%, hazard ratio = 5.72, 95% confidence interval = 2.22–14.73), with no events in the ASM‐only group. This suggests an increased risk for patients on combined NOAC and ASM therapy, underlining the need for careful drug interaction consideration.