Efficacy and Safety of Reduced-Dose Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants in Atrial Fibrillation Patients

Reduced doses of direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are recommended for patients who are older, have impaired kidney function, or have low body weight. However, real-world data on reduced-dose DOAC regimens are lacking. In this propensity-weighted, nationwide cohort study from Denmark, researchers determined the efficacy and safety of reduced-dose DOAC regimens compared with warfarin in 56,000 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Participants began treatment with either warfarin (70%) or reduced-dose DOAC regimens (110-mg dabigatran [Pradaxa] twice daily, 2.5-mg apixaban [Eliquis] twice daily, or 15-mg rivaroxaban [Xarelto] once daily). One-year risks for ischemic stroke and systemic embolism were similar for reduced-dose dabigatra…