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Clinicians might be concerned about the relative safety of the newer oral anticoagulants (dabigatran [Pradaxa], rivaroxaban [Xarelto], and apixaban [Eliquis]) in older patients. In this meta-analysis, researchers identified 10 randomized trials in which outcomes for these three agents were presented according to age subgroups; the analysis focused on the 25,000 older patients (age, ≥75). These trials involved patients with atrial fibrillation, acute venous thromboembolism (VTE), extended treatment to prevent recurrent VTE, and prophylaxis in medically ill patients. Comparators were warfarin, aspirin, enoxaparin, and placebo (placebo was used only in 2 extended VTE–prevention trials).
For older patients, rates of major bleeding or “clinically…