Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants Decrease Mortality in Atrial Fibrillation

Compared with warfarin, the new agents significantly reduced all-cause and vascular mortality.

The new direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs; dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban) have been found to be noninferior to vitamin K antagonists in clinical trials of stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. However, none of the trials has been large enough to determine whether DOACs decrease mortality to a greater extent than warfarin.

To assess the effect of DOACs on mortality as compared with warfarin, investigators performed a meta-analysis of four phase III clinical trials comprising 71,683 patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.

In patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, DOAC therapy was associated with significant declines in all-cause mortality and vascular mortality (P<0.0001 for each). In ad…

Reviewing Author

David Green, MD, PhD

Disclosures

EquityNovartis

David Green, MD, PhD

Disclosures

EquityNovartis

Direct-Acting Oral Anticoagulants Decrease Mortality in Atrial Fibrillation

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Reviewing Author